Obese children should keep food diaries

[Jazzy]

Children who are overweight or obese should be encouraged to keep a food-and-activity diary, say new public health guidelines for England.

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence says more needs to be done to tackle child obesity.

It says getting parents and their children to track what they snack on and how much TV they watch could help.

Although rates are levelling off, three in every 10 children aged between two and 15 are overweight or obese.

The guidelines make a raft of recommendations, including greater support from local authorities, but say families are at the heart of managing the issue.

Children from around the age of 12 - depending on their ability - should be encouraged to monitor their eating, physical activity and any sedentary behaviour, say the guidelines.

"For example, encourage them to keep a record of time spent watching television or playing computer games, and what they snack on and when, to identify areas that need addressing," says NICE.

Source

Is it just me or do you also think it should be the parents responsibility to be the monitor and NOT the childs?

 

[Sinon]

To be honest, at that age range, they shouldn't often be getting meals outside of their parents and school. As a result, I don't think a diary is much use. Parents need to take a lot more responsibility, as I said in another thread. It's not the TV's fault your kid is fat. It's not McDonalds either.

 

[Bjornar]

To be honest, at that age range, they shouldn't often be getting meals outside of their parents and school. As a result, I don't think a diary is much use. Parents need to take a lot more responsibility, as I said in another thread. It's not the TV's fault your kid is fat. It's not McDonalds either.

I think mcDonalds and TV is a problem. But sure, the parents need to say STOP

 

[Nebulous]

Is it just me or do you also think it should be the parents responsibility to be the monitor and NOT the childs?

Yes I agree. How can the child even get junk food and whatnot without the parent buying it in the first place?

 

[JetWing34]

I think there should be restrictions for activities for kids, such as watching TV.

Children are allowed to watch a maximum of 1 hour of TV a day, and a maximum of 5 hours per day. They must also exercise for 3 hours per week.

Also, there should be a new bill called the Stop Obesity in Children Act (SOCA), to set an age restriction for unhealthy snack consumption limited to persons 12 and under. Also, children must not bring unhealthy snacks to school for lunch. For exercise, all grades will have PE every day instead of a second playground recess.

 

[Bjornar]

I think there should be restrictions for activities for kids, such as watching TV.

Children are allowed to watch a maximum of 1 hour of TV a day, and a maximum of 5 hours per day. They must also exercise for 3 hours per week.

Also, there should be a new bill called the Stop Obesity in Children Act (SOCA), to set an age restriction for unhealthy snack consumption limited to persons 12 and under. Also, children must not bring unhealthy snacks to school for lunch. For exercise, all grades will have PE every day instead of a second playground recess.

When we work with kids we don't want to use the word Exercise.. You can make them play outside, that's even a great workout.