by Marsha Welch

Created on: August 01, 2008   Last Updated: March 25, 2010

The Wrong Message: Obesity in Schools

The Center for Disease Control released a statement saying that obesity among our youth is on the rise. Although I am concerned for the children who suffer from obesity, I don't think a legal debate is warranted on the issue. Obesity may be obvious to everyone, but the burden born by the obese child is a heavy one, indeed.

We all know how children sometimes lack the social skills and graces to keep their opinions to themselves. As a matter of fact, children can issue some pretty venomous attacks upon their peers and obese children receive more than their fair share of the pain these attacks can inflict. I think any study of these children should come from a place of understanding and sympathy.

Many drug companies have competed for the honor of producing the cure for obesity, but none seem to have attained that distinction yet. I believe the problem cannot be sorted into physical or mental, because I believe it has different causes in different people. Almost every obese person has engaged in at least one attempt to reduce his or her weight, either through dieting, exercise or taking some type of appetite suppressing medication. These strategies work for some, and are ineffective for others. Many people who have attained weight loss often fall back into old patterns and gain their weight back within a fairly short period of time.

Genetics, habits formed, available food resources, education levels and even stress have been found to contribute to obesity. If we are willing to research all of the possible causes, well and good, but I would strongly discourage focusing only on obese school children. This is like experimenting on them because they can't protest. I say we should conduct research on adults first, and use only the best information to help our children.

Many people have given up the battle of the bulge and resorted to bariatric surgery to reduce their weight. I know several people who have undergone this surgery and I believe the main reason most of them choose to have this surgery is for the sake of appearance more than their overall health. What does this tell us about our society? Do we place more value upon appearance than risking our lives? Do we place more value on our children's appearance than their self-esteem?

I think this is the wrong message for our children to hear from us. In the case of significant health risks, we might consider teaching the families of the child about nutrition. Offering tasty but

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