Comments about ‘Hope in the struggle against childhood obesity comes from many people, places’

Do students even have recess any more?

They do in Davis District, but many of the students, especially the older ones just sit and visit. The girls are the worst.

Clarissa- you are right.

This is but another downfall of trying to keep the kids so safe, that they have lost what it means to be a kid. For example, a kid can't play "Red-Rover" anymore, because of the fear of someone getting an arm broken or sprained. Can't have monkey bars, as a kid could break an arm or leg, or head. Can't play kickball anymore, because there isn't a teacher to monitor them. It's really sad. We need to let go and let the kids have those experiences.

And schools want to ban physical eduation? Video games have replaced sports and night games. Many parents don't even buy healthy foods in the house anymore... and we are wondering why kids are obese?

"Hope in the struggle against child obesity?" It sounds like you're talking about cancer or something!

The dramatic increase in obesity shown in the graphic "Obesity on the rise" is astonishing. But it's not true. The 1985 map shows 29 states colored light gray, with "0%" incidence of obesity. That should read 29 states with "No data"!

It isn't hard to find the source of the info on the CDC web site. Click on "Data & Statistics" -> "Overweight & Obesity" -> "U.S. Obesity Trends". They have no data for those 29 states in 1985.

I'm not saying there wasn't a dramatic increase in obesity--there certainly was. But the incorrect graphic exaggerates the increase.