Why don't schools teach kids more about nutrition?

double GG · 26-11-2011 01:19AM #1

Okay so, I'm currently learning about nutrition in College, around 7 years too late, I'm now 19. I find it really interesting. These things that I'm learning now is basically what I should have been taught years ago. I am by no means overweight, I'm a healthy weighted guy.

We all know how Obesity levels here have spiralled out of control in the past 10-20 years with Levels in England for example rising over 10% in Boys aged 11-15 during 1995-2004. And i can almost guarantee this level is similar here in Ireland. Across the Atlantic childhood obesity figures are over 32%.

Then take in the children who are deemed overweight but not in the category of obese, yet. We have a problem.

What is Childhood obesity?

Childhood obesity is a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child's health or wellbeing

How is it measured? By getting the body mass index of the child.

Body mass index is defined as the individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height.

Yes , I know BMI may be a poor indicator of Health etc. in very muscular people but in children it is a very easy and simple way of getting a fine estimate of your child's weight height ratio.

Childhood obesity is a massive pandemic, and it's spreading like wildfire. it is causing millions of euro to be spent later down the line in hospital and treatment facilities for diseases related to obesity, so why not try to tackle it at the source? It should be made mandatory for schools to teach nutritional values and data to kids. Teach them about calories and fats and carbs and proteins, give them all the data. Scare them with pictures of overweight adults. Show them the health risks of being overweight. Give them the data, and let them choose. When they are 12-13, that's when you want to be drumming this into them, perhaps even younger than this.

One hour per week or whatever to teach them this can't hurt them, and I can only see it doing good. Yes I know schools are trying to promote healthy food and telling parents to do this by only packing healthy foods etc..... but do kids actually understand why they should be swapping that mars bar for the carrot or are they just doing it because they are told to? Currently what schools are doing just isn't enough.

Tackle the root of the problem to prevent it from growing. Also a lot of problem may lie with the parents as they are the ones feeding them, but the kids can easily be educated in this way on nutrition which can actually lead to them teaching their parents!

Most obesity is caused by overeating on bad foods and NOT a lack of exercise. Most ad's etc. place the emphasis on exercise which is important but eating the right balanced diet is far more important. Drum it into them when they're young and they'll have it forever.

Childhood obesity is a problem, a major problem and it must be tackled head on.

So why isn't nutrition a mandatory subject in primary and secondary schools?

I know I posted in AH, and I'll probably get a few 'I wanna be witty and get no.1 reply spot for thanks whoring' reply but this is a serious matter.

Temptamperu · 26-11-2011 01:20AM

err I went to school in the 80's and early 90's they taught us about eating right then... must of stopped eh?

26-11-2011 01:21AM

Guys aren't taught nutrition mainly because Home Ec isn't provided for them in most schools, or it would be seen to be some stigma for some stupid reason. Have a penis? Make something with metal/wood instead!

AnonoBoy · 26-11-2011 01:24AM

Conspiracy dude..... it's like totally Kraft Foods that are blocking the nutrition education in this country.

They've got their fingers in every chicken pot pie going!

Temptamperu · 26-11-2011 01:24AM

Dónal wrote: »

Guys aren't taught nutrition mainly because Home Ec isn't provided for them in most schools, or it would be seen to be some stigma for some stupid reason. Have a penis? Make something with metal/wood instead!

You get it in Science too.

jimmycrackcorm · 26-11-2011 01:28AM

Op, its obvious you don't have any kids because if you had you would know that no amount of learning at school would make them eat vegetables.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 01:28AM

Eh healthy eating was taught in primary school in the 90's, reading the paper tells me that they're even more into it now, nutrition is a huge part of Home EC in secondary and I recall it being a part of SPHE.

Don't blame the schools, don't blame the kids, blame the idiots that are supposed to be taking care of them.

John Doe1 · 26-11-2011 01:32AM

cos kids suck and everyone wants them dead.

Logical Fallacy · 26-11-2011 01:33AM

One of the biggest issues is that what gets taught as "healthy eating" isn't very healthy.

Arawn · 26-11-2011 01:34AM

Why don't schools here actually have physical education instead of here go play soccer for an hour.

endacl · 26-11-2011 01:35AM

wonderfulname wrote: »

Eh healthy eating was taught in primary school in the 90's, reading the paper tells me that they're even more into it now, nutrition is a huge part of Home EC in secondary and I recall it being a part of SPHE.

Don't blame the schools, don't blame the kids, blame the idiots that are supposed to be taking care of them.

Absolutely. Should your teacher show you how to wipe your ar*e as well? Schools are there to offer an opportunity to learn to think. Parents take care of the rest. Simple. Did you eat your first ever meal on your first day of school? Didn't think so...

Amirani · 26-11-2011 01:37AM

Arawn wrote: »

Why don't schools here actually have physical education instead of here go play soccer for an hour.

I remember our PE tried to make us do gymnastics in one class. We refused so she just let us go back to playing football.

mickrock · 26-11-2011 01:37AM

But what if they were taught that a low fat/high carb diet (as dictated by the food pyramid) was a healthy diet?

That would do more harm than good.

ICANN · 26-11-2011 01:37AM

I did home ec in first year. Very basic stuff but it was the essential things I needed to know and it set me up for life tbh. I did biology too which was handy. If people don't do home ec they definitely should teach basic nutrition and address the things that people think. I have friends in their 20s and 30s who believe the whole big boned/ slow metabolism thing is the reason why many people are obese.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 01:38AM

Arawn wrote: »

Why don't schools here actually have physical education instead of here go play soccer for an hour.

My school did, and I was expected to play various sports for the school in my spare time, at the same time I know people who had a half hour game of dodge ball a week so experiences vary there incredibly, but then again is it the schools responsibility? Would it not be more up to the parents to get their kids into a healthy group activity at a young age so they grow up enjoying it?

Pete M. · 26-11-2011 01:39AM

Wouldn't it be easier just to teach them at home? :rolleyes:

We don't have to learn everything in school.

amacachi · 26-11-2011 01:39AM

There's not that much to teach:

Eat fresh vegetables, fresh meat and couple of pieces of fruit a day. Don't touch grains or anything else.

Done!

starbelgrade · 26-11-2011 01:39AM

You can't expect schools to be responsible for everything.

If kids are getting fat, it's because of the shite their parents feed them or allow them to eat.

Dionysus · 26-11-2011 01:40AM

double GG wrote: »

Why don't schools teach kids more about nutrition?

I agree with you wholeheartedly and without reservation that childhood obesity is a massive problem. I see it every day, and I see that there is a link between it and socio-economic status. The state, through advertisements and teachers, can and should tackle it. Most schools already have restrictions on what is sold in the school shop or canteen if there is one.

However, and more pertinently, why don't parents take responsibility for their kids and feed them meals which take time and effort to prepare?

The principal problem here is the parents who are too lazy or/and too overwhelmed by their own lives that they take the easy way out and give their kids whatever crap food will shut them up quickest. The same parents then end up screaming at their children when they become hyper from all the sugar.

It's a sad situation, but parents and not schools are the primary problem by a long shot. Start any campaigns at home, where kids eat most of their food and develop their eating habits. Use schools by all means to reinforce this.

Arawn · 26-11-2011 01:41AM

wonderfulname wrote: »

My school did, and I was expected to play various sports for the school in my spare time, at the same time I know people who had a half hour game of dodge ball a week so experiences vary there incredibly, but then again is it the schools responsibility? Would it not be more up to the parents to get their kids into a healthy group activity at a young age so they grow up enjoying it?

Indeed it is, but if it's on the school timetable it should be taken seriously. I swear all the girls had periods every week for years in my school.

starviewadams · 26-11-2011 01:43AM

We learned about nutrition in SPHE and in Science,and in fifth year the school had a sexual awareness day where lots of experts and a doctor and nurse came in and answered whatever questions we had.They also had some guy who had AIDS come in and tell us the story of how he contracted it,but in the end he revealed he was an actor.

Quite good for a Catholic boys only school run by the Marist Brothers!

tempura · 26-11-2011 01:44AM

I have two school going children. They are educated about nutrition at school.

They are not allowed to bring anything unhealthy into school.

Its not the schools sole responsibility to ensure that children eat a healthy diet. They input what informatin they can.

Its the parents responsibility to make sure their children eat a heatly diet.

Look back 25 or 30 years ago, I honestly dont remember seeing an obese child when i was a kid.

Sign of the times. Sad but true.

For the record, my kids are healthy.

starbelgrade · 26-11-2011 01:45AM

starviewadams wrote: »

They also had some guy who had AIDS come in and tell us the story of how he contracted it,but in the end he revealed he was an actor.

That would have pissed me off no end.... they try & teach you something by basically bringing in someone to tell you a fucking lie?

Jesus H.

wonderfulname · 26-11-2011 01:47AM

Arawn wrote: »

Indeed it is, but if it's on the school timetable it should be taken seriously. I swear all the girls had periods every week for years in my school.

I suppose they should be aiming for a certain standard if two hours a week are being dedicated to it, I was amazed a few months back when talking to my little cousin, she's doing PE as part of her GCSEs and is actually expected to do work for it, there's an exam in health and fitness and stuff and all, I must admit a lot of what I looked at was new to me.

Logical Fallacy · 26-11-2011 01:47AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

You can't expect schools to be responsible for everything.

If kids are getting fat, it's because of the shite their parents feed them or allow them to eat.

Spot on. A child will eat lunch in school 5 days a week, 2 meals at home 5 days a week and 3 meals at home 2 days a week.

That's assuming the family operate a traditional 3 meal day. Even if the kid is bring lunch money as opposed to a prepared lunch it's still only 5 meals out of 21 a week the child is in control of what they eat.

It needs to fall back on parents at the end of the day.

mickrock · 26-11-2011 01:49AM

starbelgrade wrote: »

You can't expect schools to be responsible for everything.

Most of the stuff taught in school is crap that has no relevance to real life.

Which can't be said for nutrition.

starbelgrade · 26-11-2011 01:49AM

tempura wrote: »

Look back 25 or 30 years ago, I honestly dont remember seeing an obese child when i was a kid.

There was a really fat kid in my class. His parents owned a shop & he came into school every day with bags full of chocolate & sweets.

Thinking back on it now, it was pretty sad.. he was really unpopular because he was so big - I mean fucking massive - but always had people hanging around with him because he used to give people sweets, bars & money he'd nick from the shop till.

These days though, there's fucking loads of fat kids. Most of them look about 10 years older than they actually are. It's a ticking time bomb for the health services.

26-11-2011 01:50AM

Seriously? Schools? This kinda thing should be taught at home. I am shocked at how much crap some parents allow their kids eat. I used to babysit a lot when I was younger and couldn't get over the amount of junk food children eat!

We weren't allowed sweets/biscuits/most breakfast cereals/cakes/fizzy drinks etc.. when we were young. Only time we got to eat anything like that was cake at a birthday party!

It's down to the parents really. Most overweight children I see have overweight parents sooo..

TheUsual · 26-11-2011 01:50AM

This thread is way too sensible for After Hours.

I say more fat kids.
Little feckers will wreck their makeup wearing mammy's 4 wheel drive jeeps.

john t · 26-11-2011 01:51AM

kids learn about what too eat at home, my 2 girls aged 5 and 2 eat what i think they need per day.. they exercise as in trampoline, walking and use my weights and my gym equipment 2 times a week for fun but also learning about their bodies..

Dionysus · 26-11-2011 01:51AM

Logical Fallacy wrote: »

One of the biggest issues is that what gets taught as "healthy eating" isn't very healthy.

Ah now, come on, we'll have less of this implicit cynicism. Next you'll be saying mad things like the food pyramid is set up to ensure that products such as grains which are more economically important are given a greater emphasis in the daily diet because of lobbying by the food industry. Madness!

Why don't schools teach kids more about nutrition?

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