One in three Watsonville children obese by age 8 - Santa Cruz S...

By the time they turn 8, more than 50 percent of Watsonville public school students are obese or at risk of becoming so, a study says.

[RobtA]

Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh's web site showed a photo of two Midwestern women (Mexicans, obviously) who had complained to the media about how they had to cut meat out their diets, due to the rising cost of food. Sounded like they were going hungry. But the news crew had a photo, which Limbaugh re-published: Each woman was VERY obese. RL guessed 400 pounds apiece, but I think 250 each was more like it. In any case, that's Hispanic hunger in America. Go to Florida, and take a look at the very obese black women, so it's a multi-cultural phenomenon. Whites, too, at least among the elderly.

Speaking of Mexicans: Before the conquistadors came, I wonder how hefty was the typical Aztecan, and what the diet was, compared to nowadays? Betcha they eat better now, there are more of them, but they complain more (not being able to feed other tribes to their gods).

[California Girl]

RobtA wrote:

Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh's web site showed a photo of two Midwestern women (Mexicans, obviously) who had complained to the media about how they had to cut meat out their diets, due to the rising cost of food. Sounded like they were going hungry. But the news crew had a photo, which Limbaugh re-published: Each woman was VERY obese. RL guessed 400 pounds apiece, but I think 250 each was more like it. In any case, that's Hispanic hunger in America. Go to Florida, and take a look at the very obese black women, so it's a multi-cultural phenomenon. Whites, too, at least among the elderly.
Speaking of Mexicans: Before the conquistadors came, I wonder how hefty was the typical Aztecan, and what the diet was, compared to nowadays? Betcha they eat better now, there are more of them, but they complain more (not being able to feed other tribes to their gods).

Rush Limbaugh talking about weight? I know he's supposedly thinner now but he was huge himself at one point. I hope he at least mentioned that fact.

[Thats Me]

RobtA wrote:

Yesterday, Rush Limbaugh's web site showed a photo of two Midwestern women (Mexicans, obviously) who had complained to the media about how they had to cut meat out their diets, due to the rising cost of food. Sounded like they were going hungry. But the news crew had a photo, which Limbaugh re-published: Each woman was VERY obese. RL guessed 400 pounds apiece, but I think 250 each was more like it. In any case, that's Hispanic hunger in America. Go to Florida, and take a look at the very obese black women, so it's a multi-cultural phenomenon. Whites, too, at least among the elderly.
Speaking of Mexicans: Before the conquistadors came, I wonder how hefty was the typical Aztecan, and what the diet was, compared to nowadays? Betcha they eat better now, there are more of them, but they complain more (not being able to feed other tribes to their gods).

I'll forgive you for listening to RL. Anyway, I've seen studies that suggest obesity among Hispanics is an American affliction.

[DBS]

Maybe they are trying to be just like Becky!

[Scott]

A friend of mine asked me a question awhile back:
"How many fat kids were in your class in Elementary School". I said, "Gee, we had ONE fat kid that I can remember". I went back and looked at old pictures, and sure enough, there was only ONE fat kid in 25 students. It is sad to drive by a school nowadays and see so many young kids waddleing around with huge sagging inner tubes hanging over their belts.

We didn't have fast food for lunch, pizza for dinner or even know what a Burrito was back in the 1950's. We didn't have Game Boys or computer toys. Go figure.

[PV teacher]

What the sentinel needs to do is look at the food the PVUSD is feeding it's students. As a teacher in the district who witnesses it, here are the items on our menu every day:

Pizza
Hamburgers (nasty green govt burgers)
Cheeseburgers
Processed Breaded & Fried Chicken burgers
Microwave Burritos
Cup o Noodles (Various high sodium flavors)
Hoagie Sandwiches (Turkey, Beef, Mayo, Cheese and Lettuce)
Baked Chips (Hot Cheetos, Lays, etc)
Various Colored Drinks (Gatorade, Minute Maid "Juice")
Fruit Bowl (Grapes and Melon)

It's really lame, and they can do much better, especially living in the freakin' salad bowl of America. You'd think the district could get the kids an actual, I don't know, salad!

The parents are ultimately responsible for their kids health, but if anyone should be setting a good example, it's the schools. But, come to think of it, teachers and administrators are often not the picture of health, we got some large ones in the PVUSD, let me tell ya. Donuts, junk food parties, cake, etc. We could all do a better job feeding our kids and ourselves for a healthier life. Peace.

[Thats Me]

Scott wrote:

A friend of mine asked me a question awhile back:
"How many fat kids were in your class in Elementary School". I said, "Gee, we had ONE fat kid that I can remember". I went back and looked at old pictures, and sure enough, there was only ONE fat kid in 25 students. It is sad to drive by a school nowadays and see so many young kids waddleing around with huge sagging inner tubes hanging over their belts.
We didn't have fast food for lunch, pizza for dinner or even know what a Burrito was back in the 1950's. We didn't have Game Boys or computer toys. Go figure.

Even in the 80's, I think there was 2 fat kids out of 100 in my school. One was Mexican, actually. The laziness and apathy of children (and parents) today is incredibly horrifying.

[Planner]

RobtA wrote:

Before the conquistadors came, I wonder how hefty was the typical Aztecan, and what the diet was, compared to nowadays? Betcha they eat better now...

Eat better now? What do you base that on? I'd bet that the pre-European contact diet was healthier - more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, very little saturated fat. What killed people were things like disease, poor sanitation, lack of medical care, wars..

[South county Joe]

Scott & PV teacher nailed the problem: Kids playing virtual sports, etc., with video games instead of exercising their butts with real physical activity; plus schools feeding cheap junk food to students instead of the drab but nutritious cafeteria food once provided. But I imagine the issue will instead be portrayed by activists as a matter of social injustice.

[kma]

I was a latch-key kid in the 70's, at that time we were allowed to go home for lunch. Since no one was home I ate what I thought was junk food, canned soup, canned macaroni and cheese, yogurt or a can of sardines. After school snack was cereal. The difference between then and now is the portion size, plus by the time I got done walking to school, home for lunch, back to school etc., I'd walked an hour already, maybe 2.5 miles. In general people seldom walk anymore.

I also don't think it's the job of the government to feed these kids. If you can't afford your kids, stop having them. Nobody is forcing you to have a "school lunch".

This culture, and many others are lacking in self discipline, I see many dads buying 12 or 24 packs of beer with 2-3 kids in tow, buying the kids bags of chips to pacify them while they indulge in a beer blitz afternoon.The obese moms, when they drop off their kids at school send the kids in for their free breakfast, then the kids bring the breakfast to the moms and they stuff their face while driving out of the school lot.

[Flaca]

same thing happens in mexico

[Anayeli]

150 (separate) agencies are on it!!! This study will probably spark a few new ones.(Illegal) immigration...The Progressives Full Employment Act.

[lower ocean local]

DBS wrote:

Maybe they are trying to be just like Becky!

see there you go, here is a typical jerk trying to hijack the thread and make it about becky, grow up dude.

[Pedro]

The fast food restaurants are partly to blame. Watsonville has become overrun by cheap fast food chains.

[luza]

Can yo say...Tortilla?

[luza]

California Girl wrote:

<quoted text>
Rush Limbaugh talking about weight? I know he's supposedly thinner now but he was huge himself at one point. I hope he at least mentioned that fact.

Anyone who listens to Rush Limbaugh or Travis T. Hip can't think for themselves..they're one-sided, hypocritical losers!
Don't listen to these propaganda fools!

[luza]

btw...for the record...I love tortillas! Actually bread of any kind..but you know? We, as consumers eat too much of three food items. Sugar, processed flour and animal protien.
Average American eats 120 pounds of sugar per year, twice that for AP flour...salt hmmm? Not sure but I know it's way more than required.

[Victoria]

Pedro wrote:

The fast food restaurants are partly to blame. Watsonville has become overrun by cheap fast food chains.

Is someone forcing these people to eat at these fast food places ??? It is called control. Mexican culture I believe eats tortillas as their staple food. Oh and don't forget the beans (high carb) but good protein.

[Seacliff Local]

As I mentioned today on the High Drop Out Rate Amongst Hispanics blog, we Americans are once again forcing our values down the throats of those who are perfectly content with their lifestyles. It is NO secret that fresh fruit, vegetables and air are abundant in our little corner of the world. The basic fact is that tortillas, rice and beans are the main staple in the Mexican diet and no one, except Americans are complaining about it. It is NOT unusual to see Hispanic women letting their small (meaning under age 6) children drink soda. And, it's not a matter of economics - water is free!!! Why do we insist on changing everyone's culture to reflect our own? After all, don't they believe a Fat Baby is a Happy Baby? I don't want to rob anyone of their happiness, especially if it isn't affecting me! Am I wrong?

[kma]

Seacliff local, you are not wrong and this would be OK if we lived in a more Libertarian society,however our tax dollars will be spent on their medical costs - I don't want to pay for stupid.