Are parents morally obligated to prevent obesity in their children? - Canadian Obesity Network thesis winner looks at contentious issue
HAMILTON, ON, Aug. 9 /CNW Telbec/ - Parents might have to think twice
about the moral ramifications of raising obese kids, according to one young
academic.
Eric Porcellato, a former student University of New Brunswick
Fredericton, NB, has won The Canadian Obesity Network's inaugural student
thesis competition for his analysis of parents' moral obligations to
incorporate healthy diet and exercise practices in their children's lifestyle.
The Canadian Obesity Network (CON) is a federally funded Network of
Centres of Excellence of Canada that mobilizes the expertise of more than
1,000 member researchers, clinicians, allied health care providers and other
professionals in a coordinated effort to reduce the mental, physical and
economic burden of obesity on Canadians.
In his paper, written specifically for the competition, Porcellato argues
that children whose obesity is the result of parental choices, particularly in
terms of a sedentary lifestyle and excessive intake of calorie-dense foods,
are in many cases being exposed to an unjustifiable risk of harm. He also
suggests that parents can mitigate this harm by utilizing what is known as the
'best-interest standard', a legal and moral guide typically employed for
decision making involving incompetent persons. Porcellato's submission is
based on a wider discussion of this topic in his Master's thesis, which he
completed and defended this year.
"As the incidence of childhood obesity skyrockets in Canada and around
the globe, researchers and health professionals are scrambling to address the
real roots of the epidemic, as well as potential solutions," says Dr. Arya M.
Sharma, CON's Scientific Director. "This competition sought new perspectives
from students and young professionals on any issue related to obesity, and the
jurors found Eric's thesis to be a compelling and unique argument."
Submissions for the competition, received from amongst CON's 150 student
members, were adjudicated by a panel of experts from across a wide range of
disciplines in health care research, education and practice. The Network has
made a strong commitment to the development of young professionals in Canada
as part of its long-term strategy to combat the effects of the obesity
epidemic.
Currently, more than 5.5 million Canadian adults are obese, as are
500,000 children, all of whom are at increased risk for early disability and
death, decreased quality of life and a diminished capacity to contribute to
our economy. These factors translate into over $1.8 billion in direct health
costs to the Canadian health care system.
"This is a very costly disease, and there is no easy fix for the
problem," Dr. Sharma explains. "It is critical that Canada develops its next
generation of innovative thinkers today if we are going to make real
progress."
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