Childhood Obesity versus Swine Flu

It’s is clear that there are justified mounting concerns regarding the H1N1 flu (which is what health experts are now calling this new flu strain). It is estimated that the spread will also herald more deaths, though typically deaths may be associated with patients who have other complicating issues or who develop secondary complications, like pneumonia, and do not seek treatment with haste. Currently experts believe that the ground zero patient was a five year old in a small town, la gloria, outside of mexico city. The initial flu may have started back in march, and though an entire 4th grad came down with symptoms, was initially missed as a new strain of flu.

There has been a flurry of purchasing masks, that for the most part may not be helpful since they can become flu vectors, anti-virals, which should not be used without first talking to your doctor and having confirmed flu and herbal preparations like elderberry, often used for traditional flu therapy. It’s interesting that childhood obesity, currently considered an epidemic, does not seem to be approached with nearly the same action, urgency and concern. Parents are advising their kids on how to approach flu hygiene with hand washing, cough and sneeze etiquette and other tips, but don’t seem to be willing to engage in the prevention or serious treatment of obesity. So while kids are repeatedly washing their hands, they are then drinking excessive amounts of soda, eating fast food and sitting around video gaming and watching TV.

Experts surmise that we cannot see the down the road serious health implications of childhood obesity with the clarity that we see swine flu implications. We don’t mind government advising us on flu precautions, but we very much as parents do not want to be told if our kids are obese, nor do we want to be told what foods are acceptable for school celebrations. We certainly do not want health risk notes sent home by schools who take note of overweight children. Most health professionals wish that we would approach childhood obesity with a semblance of the day to day urgency that we have for H1N1 flu. So sure, buy those masks and portable hand sanitizers, and wash your hands and then, why not wash some vegetables, while you are at it, for your kid’s snacks today.