Parents must take blame for obesity

by Cara Stucke
Springfield News Leader
Springfield, MO

In response to the letter written by Bonnie Linhardt, of the American Heart Association, published May 12, 2009. I agree with most everything she stated. I agree that child obesity is an epidemic. I agree that lack of physical activity and a diet that is high in empty and fat-laden calories is the reason for this epidemic. And I certainly agree that this can hurt a child's academic, social and emotional development.


The children today have the exact same P.E. requirement for graduation as I did 20+ years ago. The problem I see is that we treat our school system like a day care for our children. Miss Linhardt states that "Missouri schools have decreased the time allocated for physical education, while increasing the time that kids spend sitting in the classroom." Well, I must ask: isn't that what school is all about? Sitting in classrooms? Learning?

Child obesity is not the responsibility of our schools, in my opinion. It is, however, the responsibility of the parents of these children. We not only feed our children, from the time they come into this world, but we teach our children how to eat. If she wants to write a letter to the News-Leader to point out the horrible epidemic of child obesity because she is a qualified advocate with statistics and facts, then I am all for it. But lay the blame where the blame actually lies: with the parents of these children.

Parents, before you contact your state legislators, put down the menu, make a salad, go for a walk, and talk to your children. Teach your children, as this is your epidemic; and your epidemic will kill your children. Our school system is not your babysitter.

Coach Lewis' Thoughts

I think that we can do a lot as Physical Education teachers, teaching students how to be healthy and how to be physically active for a lifetime. However, we cannot control what the children do when they are at home (what they eat, how much exercise they get, etc).