Once again, there’s another report from an Ontario government
appointed panel that is pointing a finger at fast-food restaurants, targeting
them and not parents, for the ever-increasing obesity problem in children. The
report, among other things, recommends the ban of junk-food ads aimed at
children under the age of 12. From my perspective that is like plugging one small
hole in a dam that has larger leaks to deal with.
While the recommendations may be well-intended, a ban on ads
and other general efforts at promoting better food choices is likely to have a
minimal effect and is tantamount to treating the symptoms. With many overweight
children being the result of overweight parents, we need to pay more attention
to a better education of parents. Although parents have the right to make
decisions about their own food choices, some of which can contribute to
life-long health problems, they should not subject their at risk children to a
diet that can saddle them with similar health problems.
Unfortunately, we live in an era whereby few people are
willing to ‘upset’ others by saying what needs to be said. Health professionals
and educators would rather skirt around the problem with feel-good generalities
and avoid addressing the core of the problem for fear of offending the sensitivities
of those that may need a reality check.
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