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Originally Posted by Kris  Hello... OD.
My name is Krisitna, I am a reporter fron the Bronx, NY. I am currently working on a article about child obesity in the Bronx. So if any of you reside in the Bronx and would like to submit some information about your fight againt obesity or if any of you have children who are suffering from it please get back at me ASAP.
Thank You  |
Hi Kris,
My husband's originally from the Bronx, we go back occasionally, and...yes, we've noticed the kids. Child obesity there has a double problem, stemming from the lack of good supermarkets in poor neighborhoods. The other part of the "double" is that moms these days work & are so stressed, but even poor moms who want to cook & bake healthier can't find the ingredients. It's systemic, it's all over. I'm corresponding now with a mom who lives in south Philly. Emailed her a recipe calling for liquid egg whites and fat free cheese. She emailed back saying "Ha, I'd have to take 3 buses to find a supermarket with those."
It's heartbreaking. A friend's son is a nyc cop who says he sees kids stumbling out in the morning, stopping at the corner for soda & Twinkies *for breakfast,* and then, you know, the rest of the day it's McThis & McThat & junk that "carries." Keeps in backpacks in a wrapper. Or on the retailer's shelf for weeks, because it's made of high fructose corn syrup and other killer crap.
Lack of exercise and sedentary also applies to kids in higher income areas, but at least the parents there have a choice. You wouldn't know it though. The 'burbs too have wide-load 12-year-olds waddling around and *wheezing* from exertion. Texting, texting. Very well excercised...thumbs.
Anyway, my contribution to your thoughts are the double problem of bad or no supermarkets in poor neighborhoods. But it's all over the country, Europe too -- that's the bigger picture.
What newspaper are you writing for? Best of luck, and good for you for doing this. Write me if you want to bounce any more ideas...
