By 2010, 1 in 5 kids will be obese. Yes, obese, not just overweight. Currently we have 12 millions kids who are overweight. It has been shown that overweight kids much more likely become overweight or obese adults.

Not too long ago, I saw on ABC's Nightline a report about stomach surgery for a 16-year-old girl She weight over 300 lbs before the surgery. She dropped over 100 lbs quickly after surgery. One post-surgery problem she encountered was depression. Foods used to be her best friend, but now she has lost her best friend. She often goes to her bedroom and shuts the door when her family is enjoying dinner. Her parents and her siblings are obese or overweight. I wish someone could tell her parents to lose weight first and set a good example for their kids.

Obesity and its related health problems can bankrupt our entire medical care system in 10 years. It is not a joking matter.

Maybe if parents weren't so quick to buy their kids Mc Meals all the time and actually took a moment out of their day to "parent" and make their kids involve themselves in some type of heathly activity rather than just handing them and Xbox 360 controller and some BBQ Pringles then we wouldn't have all these fat ass little bastards pulling on my pant leg in the Kroger checkout line and asking me through their sloppy snouts if I am gonna finish the rest of my Kit Kat. The answer is "Yes" you fat goblin, it's MY KIT KAT.

It all comes back to food IMO. For far too long, we've had companies mass marketing sugar and saturated fats to kids because they are easy targets. We as a society have placed corporate bottom lines, cheap food products, and base gluttony over the health of our kids. Why a 16-year old smoking a cig a day is SO HORRIBLE but a mother letting her 4-year old drink two cans of soda a day and eat fast food all the time is perfectly normal is way beyond my comprehension. I'd much rather live in a society where everyone smokes a cigarette or two a day than one where everyone eats fast food and soda every day. Why the war on one and not the other I'll never understand.

Want to stop child obesity? Make artificial sugar a controlled substance and excise tax the heck out of it.

jchagan wrote:

Want to stop child obesity? Make artificial sugar a controlled substance and excise tax the heck out of it.

Don't we have enough laws and regulations? It all comes down to personal responsibilities. Parents should bear the responsibility of informing kids and watching over what they eat. Government isn't the solution and it never will be.

Terry wrote:

jchagan wrote:

Want to stop child obesity? Make artificial sugar a controlled substance and excise tax the heck out of it.

Don't we have enough laws and regulations? It all comes down to personal responsibilities. Parents should bear the responsibility of informing kids and watching over what they eat. Government isn't the solution and it never will be.

Sure, but my point is that IF we're going to place "laws and restrictions" on alcohol and cigs, why not on artificial sugars, oils, etc., since their aggregate harm is probably greater than that of tobacco? Or better yet, why not enforce existing laws (some of which would greatly imrpove our QOL, such as environmental laws)

jchagan wrote:

Sure, but my point is that IF we're going to place "laws and restrictions" on alcohol and cigs, why not on artificial sugars, oils, etc., since their aggregate harm is probably greater than that of tobacco?

Everything is good in moderation including alcohol and cigarette. Even with new taxes, the government can't control how much sugar or fast food you have. You have that control and you can educate your kids to gain that control. Passing all responsibilities to the government ultimately reduces one's personal responsibilities.