According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, 16 percent of American children ages 6 to 19 are over weight, a 45 percent increase from 1994. With the rise in childhood obesity, and the media's preoccupation with it, you would think that American mothers would be concerned about the epidemic, but a new Woman's Day Magazine/AOL Food Report finds that 79 percent of them are not worried about their child's weight. The study polled over 2500 American women to learn their eating habits and their opinions on nutrition and food related issues.
According to the report, fast food remains a major part of the American diet, with 36 percent of poll respondents admitting to eating fast food one a week, and sixteen percent eating fast food at least twice a week. Convenience weighed heavily into most women's decision to eat fast food, while cost was another consideration. When quizzed about the cost of healthy eating, 80 percent of women believed that they would eat healthier if options that were lower in fat, calories, sugar and sodium were more affordable, but 85 percent did not attribute their eating habits to cost, saying price seldom entered into their food decisions. Stress also plays a major role in unhealthy eating habits, with 59 percent of women admitting to indulging in junk food when feeling overwhelmed, with sweets such as candy and cookies being the most popular treats.
In spite of being frequent consumers of junk food and fast food, women are worried about their weight. Of the more than 2500 women polled, only 21 percent had never really been on a diet, but 43 percent admit to only sticking with a diet for a week before going off their program by cheating. Food is also a source of guilt for women, with 32 percent saying they regret something they eat almost every single day.
According to the report, fast food remains a major part of the American diet, with 36 percent of poll respondents admitting to eating fast food one a week, and sixteen percent eating fast food at least twice a week. Convenience weighed heavily into most women's decision to eat fast food, while cost was another consideration. When quizzed about the cost of healthy eating, 80 percent of women believed that they would eat healthier if options that were lower in fat, calories, sugar and sodium were more affordable, but 85 percent did not attribute their eating habits to cost, saying price seldom entered into their food decisions. Stress also plays a major role in unhealthy eating habits, with 59 percent of women admitting to indulging in junk food when feeling overwhelmed, with sweets such as candy and cookies being the most popular treats.
In spite of being frequent consumers of junk food and fast food, women are worried about their weight. Of the more than 2500 women polled, only 21 percent had never really been on a diet, but 43 percent admit to only sticking with a diet for a week before going off their program by cheating. Food is also a source of guilt for women, with 32 percent saying they regret something they eat almost every single day.
Comments
I agree that in my experience, most parents seem to care little about their kids' weight/eating habits. Kids get so many snacks anymore ... many just graze through the day. Excellent article!
It's sad that junk food features heavily in many people's lives. Even people who are thin may be deluded into thinking they are healthy, but how can they be if they eat junk food all the time?
Sophie
Why would I be concerned about his eating habits if he's a healthy weight and has a healthy diet?
nix that second "don't" I threw in there. :)
This is sad. I don't understand parents who don't who are so unconcerned about their children's eating habits. I suppose they aren't really concerned about themselves though either.
If 84 % of kids are not overweight, then what is surprising about 79% of mothers not being concerned about their children's weight? It sounds perfectly appropriate to me.
I'm not worried about my son's weight because we have a healthy diet and because he's the right weight for his height. If he were chubby, I still wouldn't be worried, as he's only 2. I agree that a restrictive diet is bad; instead, just leaning towards healthy foods and limiting unheathy ones would be better.
It is better to not worry about your child's weight than put them on a restrictive diet--see this article (http://www.aahd.us/page.php?pname=publications/newsletters/2003/fall/healthbuzz4&PHPSESSID=2a282e972e6077ee2f9390debcf7a3fa). Rather than focusing on the scale, I think that emphasis should be placed on healthy eating. Children should rarely, if ever, eat fast food--but they should eat a nutritious and varied diet, and most importantly not turned into little lifetime dieters, who restrict caloric intake and set themselves up for a lifetime of emotional stress and physical problems that go along with yo-yo dieting.
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