{"id":5628,"date":"2014-01-06T23:55:14","date_gmt":"2014-01-06T22:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/?p=5628"},"modified":"2014-01-07T00:07:20","modified_gmt":"2014-01-06T23:07:20","slug":"childhood-obesity-the-real-elephant-in-the-room","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.bmj.com\/bjsm\/2014\/01\/06\/childhood-obesity-the-real-elephant-in-the-room\/","title":{"rendered":"Childhood Obesity: The Real Elephant in the Room"},"content":{"rendered":"

LETTER TO THE EDITOR<\/p>\n

By\u00a0Roger Redman<\/p>\n

The recent BJSM article\u00a0 “Is the lack of physical activity strategy for children complicit mass child neglect<\/a>?” \u00a0is well-informed and highlights a major problem, but, like many professional commentaries it seems to be “politically correct” in not mentioning the real Elephant in the Room.<\/p>\n

\"elephantThe fact that one in three older primary school children are overweight is obviously a major concern for the future of those children and for the nation as a whole.<\/p>\n

However, time after time when this issue is raised in the public consciousness (as in this case with a mention and discussion on Radio 4) it is always the popular media, the technical journals, qualified professionals or, occasionally a politician, who highlights the problem.<\/p>\n

What about the parents? Surely it should be parents raising this issue and, where it is within their power, putting all their efforts into solving the problem, for the sake of their children?<\/p>\n

Yes, school playing fields have been sold off \u00a0(and how many parents really used their \u201cpolitical clout\u201d to stop the sales?) but there are still ample other ways in which children can get exercise; however this usually involves the expenditure of time, effort and thought by their parents.<\/p>\n

Similarly, there is ample information available on healthy eating and, more importantly, the adverse effects of a lifetime of poor diet (we haven’t mentioned Alzheimer’s yet!).<\/p>\n

We seem to unquestioningly accept parents saying that \u201cI don’t understand about diet, it’s all too complicated\u201d when these same parents know precisely how to download a new ring tone for their iPhone,\u00a0how to \u201cSkype\u201d Auntie Flo in Australia,\u00a0 or the latest winner of \u00a0\u201cStrictly…..\u201d.<\/p>\n

We are told that parent’s sole concern is the well-being of their children, but we see all around us, walking the streets, the proof that in many cases, this is not so. (Obese girl who weighs 10 stone at age of 5 is taken into care!! – Daily Express, 9\/12\/13).<\/p>\n

Some typical horror stories among my friends, neighbours and relatives include:<\/b><\/p>\n