We’re killing our children; it really is that simple

So the icon of daytime TV that is Judy Finnegan is under fire again. She only recently made her return to our screens as a regular on the Loose Women panel after a decade in her study writing novels, and Judy - Oh Judy! –what a return it’s been.

 

On her very first day in the new job she made some rather controversial remarks about footballer and convicted rapist Ched Evans, but undeterred by the media furore and social media backlash it caused (including death threats from internet trolls) it seems Judy has gone and done it again.

 

In case you missed it, Judy suggested that overweight children and teens should have gastric band surgery to get their weight under control.

 

Outrageous, audacious, extreme - or is it?

 

You see here’s the thing: childhood obesity is a ticking time bomb in our society. It’s a silent (but far from invisible) problem, which is causing untold physical and emotional damage. Recent data from the Growing Up In Ireland study suggest that 20% of Irish nine-year-olds were overweight in the year 2011 and 7% were obese. Clinically, morbidly obese. It’s killing them.

 

The only dedicated centre for the treatment of obesity in children at Temple St. hospital has seen a 400% increase in the number of referrals in children aged five and under in the space of just one year.

 

Now I’d hazard a fairly safe bet that most parents whose child had a serious illness that was killing them would move mountains to ensure the disease was brought under control or eradicated. Doctor’s visits would be made, experts in the field would be sought, all manner of therapies and treatments would be researched and if those treatments were only available overseas then fundraisers would be held to ensure that everything the parent could do to save or prolong their child’s life would be done.

 

So why is that not happening with childhood obesity?

 

We’ve all seen it and we’re all guilty of it to varying degrees; sweets after school, pizza in front of the box, a Chinese delivered on a Friday night because it’s been a tough week and we can’t be bothered to cook, convenient pre pre-packaged items in the lunchbox and in many cases washed down with gallons of fizzy drink.

 

Add to that our complete and utter dependence on cars and our (mostly irrational) fear that our world isn’t safe anymore, so our children couldn’t possibly cycle to school or walk to their friend’s house.

 

We’re killing our children. It really is that simple.

 

We parents are our children’s primary carers and educators and on this issue, we’re failing dismally.

 

So while Judy Finnegan’s suggestion about gastric bands may seem excessive, I for one hope it provokes thought and lights the touch-paper of debate.