I was watching this documentary last night (I know..im about 5 years late rolleyes )…There’s no doubt that the rate of obesity has had a huge increase over hte last 30-40 years. Often, places like Mcdonalds or Kfc are t blame but there are so many factors that contribute to this increase.
So while I was watching, I was wondering if it’s as big phenomenon as it is with our people. I honestly cannot remember ever seeing a fat desi kid. :o
Even now, I cant think of any child who is overweight or obese. one of the reasons I think that is the case, because most muslims do not live on a diet of processed foods and fast food (which is a major factor of the incrase in obesity today) simply cz of the halal factor…im sure there are other factors as well…or is my view kinda skewed?
i guess i wanna ask parents..how strict are you wtih your kids’ diet and physical fitness level? As far as I know, physical education is almost gone from most schools..junk food is sold in schools now…etc..
Do you notice obesity is a bigger problem in your community?
I'm not too strict about the diet as my daughter is a picky eater, so as long as she eats anything I'm happy :)
About physical fitness, she plays outside for an hour or so every day and she's too young to be a couch potato...I'll curb it if I see it happening, but she's mashaAllah fine so far. And no, i haven't seen many obese desi kids, just one couple I know has really chubby kids but I think thats genetic :).
I have seen really chubby kids. One girl I know is 6 years old but ever since she was 3, she has been put on strict diet by her doctor because of her weight issues. She can only eat egg whites, no yolks. My cousin was obese, and wouldn’t stop eating. Her mom really got on her case before her weight got worse. She then realized it and went on a strict diet on her own (this was in her teens), and got into good shape. My sister is the kind who will put on weight instantly, and she did when she got to her teens. My mother who had just come back from Pakistan after a few months was speechless because none of the clothes she brought back fit my sister She then stopped with the soda, fatty food and 6 years later, she’s still very careful about what she eats. She eats ALOT (all of us and her friends make so much fun of her) but she only eats all healthy stuff, and is a gym fanatic. Everyone tells her she’s the most in shape person they have seen. She has a figure to kill for, mA.
My husband was a fat kid even though both his parents are slim but when he got to high school, he lost it without any efforts. Now we all tell him to put ON weight
I have cut most sugary type of stuff, mcdonalds and other junk food is to once a week or not even.
It has less to do with obesity and more with eating healthy.
I am also trying to feed my kids more organic food and hormone free products esp dairy, eggs, cheese and meat.
To answer your question - Sara i do not see that as a part of desi community but the Arab kids (ages 3-15) in our mosque are huge-mongous. (guys and gals)
My kids eat mcdonalds type things only once a week or after every two weeks and what I cook in home is usually healthy not much deep fried.And I give my kids snacks but not much. No choclates every day or pops but fruit snacks or fruit cups are better options. Between choclate and icecream I prefer icecream as it has some calcium in it. And on weekends they have waffles or donuts thats it. Well my kids are usually skinny so I am not worried to put them on strict diet and we usually eat roti or rice with salan ,grill, chinese etc etc and eating regular healthy meals don't make them fat.
I was a skinny kid.... who had to be off some foods due to health issues and becoz of the strict diet I would eat and drink the junk stuff when mom wasn't around.... and I was not at all physically active... I do wish I had been physically active in my teenage years...but life sucked in high school..and I turned to food.... I did lose weight in college but I keep going back and forth.... I do see some obese kids around nowadays but it is mostly in the arabs... not desis... our home cooked meals and 3 meals a day have a big part to play in that....
My elder daughter likes to eat junk food. But she is not excessive junk eater cos I limit but not entirely restrict her, and she is pretty thin. Nowadays she is open to more veggies and daals. She cycles and swims regularly.
My younger daughter has to have her salad everyday. If I have not made at dinner time, she will actually demand I cut some up for her. And she loves her meal of steamed veggies and brown rice and loves her greens. She hates samosas, burgers etc. But loves chips. Also being asthmatic, I have made her aware of restricting sweets and colored juices, ready made packet milkshakes etc. She loves desi sweets. That is one thing I have to restrict her from.
She then stopped with the soda, fatty food and 6 years later, she’s still very careful about what she eats. She eats ALOT (all of us and her friends make so much fun of her) but she only eats all healthy stuff, and is a gym fanatic. Everyone tells her she’s the most in shape person they have seen. She has a figure to kill for, mA.