By Mandy Feder
“Eat your food. There are starving children in China,” My mother said, as I stared down at the ceramic white plate with pink roses. It was piled with greens, some potatoes and a hunk of meat accompanied by a large glass of milk.
I remember hearing that tired old line quite often when I was growing up.
I would have gladly given those children, or any child anywhere, my food.
I had not seen a starving child in New Jersey though.
In the past 10 years, children are growing taller and fatter in China. But they are not eating the types of food my mother was relentlessly promoting.
My brothers and I were perpetually envious of our classmates who regularly dined at the golden arches. McDonald”s was strictly off-limits for us. The same was true of any fast food.
The children of today in China are scarfing down fast food, filled with preservatives and fats at an alarming rate.
Fears of an American-style obesity crisis are paramount, with more fast food restaurants opening in China daily.
Parents and grandparents often feed children excessively to make up for being fed inadequately themselves. This advances the concept of wanting more for your children than you had yourself growing up.
Because of a massive famine 45 years ago, bigger children in China have been a source of pride and prosperity. In the past, fat was associated with good health in China.
This wasn”t just the case in China, it was universal.
A line from an Elton John song comes to mind, “Times are changing now the poor get fat.”
It is a good thing that a great majority of the world is being fed, no matter socio-economic standing.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, parallels between American children and Chinese children are emerging in force.
An average 6-year-old in Beijing or Shanghai weighs about 47 pounds and is 3 feet, 10.5 inches tall. The average American child the same age weighs approximately 50 pounds and also is 3 feet 10.5 inches tall.
According to a report by the BBC, “China”s first official nutrition and health survey shows that between 1992 and 2002 more than 60 million people became obese.”
Sixty million people are obese?
Additionally 200 million people are overweight.
This extends way beyond personal responsibility or the simplistic assertion about gluttony.
Health officials blame diets too high in fat and a sharp decrease in physical exercise. Many urban residents are eating too much meat, oils and fats and not enough cereals.
Obesity in China is a great health concern with according to World Health Organization.
Fast food restaurants exacerbate the obesity problem.
It”s a really good time to pass on the need for consuming healthy foods devoid of dangerous preservatives and fats.
The fast food phenomenon is mostly an American one. We could lead by example if we promoted more programs like farm-to-school and became educated about what we consume.
I have no residual resentment toward my parents regarding their decisions to keep us away from fast food and preservative-filled snacks. I don”t remember too well, but I can be sure they endured lots of whining. For that, I apologize and offer thanks for caring enough to keep us healthy.
Mandy Feder is the Record-Bee managing editor. She can be reached at mandyfeder@yahoo.com or 263-5636 Ext. 32.
