Maybe it's just the bell curve is flattening out, rather than an "all our kids are getting too fat" situation? Or maybe the measurement methodology has changed (in the same way as you're now on a binge after 2 glasses of wine)? Some years ago, one of my daughter's friends was judged to be clinically obese when she was 5 years old. She didn't look it then, nor since.
Kids seem to be as active as ever to me; so many kids are playing football, rugby, hockey, or in athletic or swimming clubs.
Gym memberships at such as one of the Pure Gyms is at a high level, and it's not predominantly older people suddenly worried about middle age spread. The gym members look to be mostly under 30.
And I'm always wary of teachers sounding the warning bell about this; at my kids school, the kids were stopped from playing football in the playground at breaktime, and then there was a ban on running in the playground because of the danger of collision. That's no urban myth .... it was Cramond Primary, early 2000s.
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Growing Up in Scotland: Overweight, obesity and activity
(360 posts)-
Posted 7 years ago #
-
Interesting that is was Cramond PS.
A few years ago they made the playground a more adventurous version of the more recent Sciennes improvements.
Rocks, logs, steep slopes etc.
Before it was finished the HT said that the worst accidents at the school were where kids ran into each other at a blind corner.
The Sciennes development has been a great success (a few dissenting parents) and the number and severity of the playground accidents has gone down. I assume the same happened at CPS.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
These include restricting discounts and offers on junk food, restricting car use and promoting active travel options.
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Scotland may need to introduce unpopular policies as part of a bold approach to tackling the country's obesity problem, according to MSPs.
Holyrood's health committee said measures such as restricting cars in towns and increasing parking charges would be politically unpopular.
"
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-38716754
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
In a letter to Aileen Campbell, minister for public health and sport, the committee said there should be a joined up policy approach with consideration given from other areas such as education, local government and transport.
"
http://www.localgov.co.uk/Scotland-has-worst-weight-outcomes-in-UK-MSPs-say/42396
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Scotland may need to introduce unpopular policies"
Forget it then! Very little chance of anything like that happening, even if it's the Right Thing To Do.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
I am a keen cyclist and have many friends who are very enthusiastic too. Having been in Denmark over the summer I was inspired by the Danes and their provision for cyclists. I support the initiatives you raise and would be keen to meet you to discuss after the 13th (no matter the result of the leadership election) as I am interested in these issues.
"
http://pedalonparliament.org/reply-from-neil-findlay-msp-to-our-question/
Posted 7 years ago # -
From the Beeb article:
Responding to the committee's letter, Ms Campbell said: "We have consistently called on the UK government to ban junk food advertising before the 9pm watershed.
"And we are looking at what further effective actions we can take within the powers available to us, including the use of multi-buy promotions, as well as examining a range of actions to improve diet, physical activity and education.
"We have announced our intention to set out and consult on the development of our new diet and obesity strategy this year, building on our wide range of activity to make it easier for people - including children and their families - to be more active, eat less, and eat better."So, in summary, it's Westminster's fault, and we'll just politely and gently encourage folk to eat less and do more.
Like I said, forget about implementing unpopular policies under this government!
Posted 7 years ago # -
I fear the only way to tackle obesity worldwide, let alone Scotland, is to abolish practically all take-away food. Heaven knows what the consequences would be in terms of business and employment in the fast food sector, not to mention the pleasure from an occasional carry-out curry.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Posted here 2 years ago -
"
And the huge financial burden on the NHS may eventually force ministers into more action. "The government has to be much more nanny state in terms of policing the food industry, taxing snack food, taxing fizzy drinks, banning fizzy drinks, banning sugary foods, and not just in school dinners but also in work canteens and hospital food. Every kind of food provision has to be much more controlled by the government. Then they have to put money into cycle paths and street lighting and redesign their cities so that it is much more easy for people to be physically active."
"
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jun/21/how-britain-got-so-fat-obese
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Bold approach needed to tackle obesity finds Health Committee
"
Posted 7 years ago # -
From the parliament article above:
The Committee also heard 40 per cent of adults were not meeting physical activity guidelines and that only 2 per cent of the transport budget was spent on walking and cycling. The Committee is keen that these activities are made accessible to all and asks the Scottish Government what action it plans to take to increase participation in walking and cycling.
(my bold)
Posted 7 years ago # -
Aye, and the answer is ""We have announced our intention to set out and consult on the development of our new diet and obesity strategy this year"
In other words, kicked into the long grass to be retrieved at leisure.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Posted 7 years ago #
-
Aye my kids were on the walking bus to Abbeyhill this morning. They've been running the walking bus for a couple of years now. They walk to school anyway (my son usually runs all the way), but still, lending support...
Posted 7 years ago # -
Not a 'well off' school
"
Ken McAra (@KenMcAra)
10/11/2016, 12:16
#CIDREE2016 Jane Gray (HT) talking about Inzievar Primary and its campus/community in the Fife workshop.http://pic.twitter.com/Gx6ufxD0RY
"
Perhaps easier to organise if fewer parents have cars, but...
Posted 7 years ago # -
"Perhaps easier to organise if fewer parents have cars"
Also means that parents don't have to do the school run (whether in a vehicle, by bike or on foot) as the kids just join the "bus" at a point near their home.
Posted 7 years ago # -
How does Abbeyhill deal with any concerns about being responsible for unaccompanied children?
Is the WB organised by the school or parents?
Posted 7 years ago # -
It's organised by the school. Teachers and Learning Assistants are involved. Some parents help out as volunteer assistants.
Effectively it's a similar arrangement to a school excursion.
Oh and the kids don't wear hi-viz tabards! Gobsmacked to see that in Fife. It's just walking for goodness' sake.
Maybe it helps that Abbeyhill is a smaller school, where the teachers know most of the kids. It would be a greater logistical challenge at a larger school.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Posted 7 years ago #
-
<wrong thread>
Posted 7 years ago # -
Fascinating programme last night on BBC2 - "Scotland's Childhood" - about the Scottish education system. As the son of a teacher I recognised a lot of the things being discussed. Lots of archive clips, including one at about 40mins in of loads of kids all getting on bikes to go home. Judging by the clothes/bikes I guess sometime in the 70s or early 80s.
For various reasons the whole programme made me angry and sad.
Posted 7 years ago # -
Sadness and anger seem like the mood du jour. Stuff like this;
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-39067388
Sticking plaster on a broken leg I'd say. What's the point in being rich and miserable or wealthy and fat?
Posted 7 years ago # -
Still from programme publicity, so this is appropriate thread -
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Physical activity levels may start tailing off by age 7 in boys and girls, says British Journal of Sports Medicine"
Posted 7 years ago # -
A belated repsonse to @Iwrats: "What's the point in being rich and miserable or wealthy and fat?"
Whoah now - I have friends and relatives who are, for various reasons, fat*. They aren't wealthy, true, but they definitely have existences with a point.
*including side effects of Serious Business medications they have no choice but to take in one case and a poorly understood chronic illness in another.
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
USC researchers tracked 314 overweight/obese Latino kids ages 8-15 in L.A. County.
None had diabetes at study start.
But by the time kids turned 18, those who lived in areas with high levels of air pollution had 13% less-than-normal efficiency in their insulin-producing cells, making them more prone to eventually developing diabetes, according to USC news.
"
http://www.momscleanairforce.org/study-air-pollution-diabetes-latino-kids/
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
A British Retail Consortium spokesman told The Daily Mail: “Changing portion sizes forms part of industry efforts to help tackle obesity.”
"
http://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3292390/brit-families-pay-same-price-for-smaller-supermarket-items/amp/
Posted 7 years ago # -
"
Obesity in Scotland has risen over the last 20 years with those from the most deprived areas showing higher levels.
A study published today by NHS Health Scotland highlights the inequalities and provides comprehensive analysis of how socio-economic status is a major factor in the nation’s health.
"
Posted 7 years ago #
Reply »
You must log in to post.
posts
