by David Payne

Created on: November 17, 2010

With childhood obesity on an ever upward spiral, no one wants to take responsibility for the uncertain future our children find themselves in. Being informed through the media that the current generation of children may not even outlive their parents, gives us all cause for thought. There are three main areas where culpability can and should be placed, though the degree to which they are each responsible vary greatly.

Any countries government should take a good look in the mirror for the explosion in childhood obesity. The food in schools that is given from kindergarten upwards is to put it bluntly appalling. Cheap sugar laden foods are wheeled out every lunch time across any modern nation you care to think of. Milkshakes replacing its natural namesake. Chips and burgers that come ready packed and frozen, instead of real meat and a selection of vegetables. Pudding that only promotes yet more sugar consumption rounding off a gastronomic meal from hell. And that is a daily routine that repeats itself every single year of a child's scholastic life. When viewing what our children eat at their place of education, is it any wonder that their waist lines are forever expanding. The government needs to think less about profit making and more about young sentient life with regards to food. Only by putting in place a healthy menu in every school in the land can this frighteningly obese society of the future be averted.

The people that run the fast food industry need take part of the blame for the current state of childhood health. The very products they promote on radio, television and billboards have an undeniable effect on fat levels amongst the young. Pizzas, burgers, fried chicken and the like contain extreme levels of sodium that our kidneys can not process fast enough. Resulting high levels of sodium within the body makes the heart muscle work that much harder. In later life this can cause heart disease and dangerously high blood pressure. It is not a coincidence that national levels of diabetes, heart problems and neurological strokes are much more common in this fast food society. This is the real dish these unscrupulous companies are giving to our children.

The majority of the blame for childhood obesity should, and must be laid at the door of the parent. It is not an easy pill to swallow, but one we must ingest for the good of our young. Parents are the most important aspect in a young child's guidance. The learning of language, moral values and food nutrition

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