Obesity

Though I agree that too many people are painting a “catacylsmic picture” of the state of our ever-widening and inactive youth, I also feel that perhaps Mr. Kalish has misunderstood the point of the Harvard study and others that seek to help inform (maybe even scare?) the public into taking note of a growing problem – this IS a nationwide issue, and despite Riverwest kids not being a shining example of the fatter, lazier kids the studies point to, this is for real. In places across the nation that are not unlike Milwaukee (and Riverwest), kids are growing up less healthy than ever before.

A parent shoveling Fast Food into a child’s mouth because it’s easy and cheap is a cop out; so is allowing them to sit in front of a TV or computer screen and play games for hours and days on end. Kids are kids, and one way for parents to step in and help stem a growing ‘epidemic’ is to more actively participate in their child’s eating and physical habits, as well as educate them from an early age on what is and is not good to eat.

I write because I feel strongly about this topic – I applaud you for helping to begin Milwaukee’s discussion of what will prove to be a real problem in years to come.

» posted by Brett Kell