WHY do we make rocket science out of simple solutions?

... News & Star skip to: page content e SHOPPING Surgery isn’t the answer for fat kids Published on 22/03/2006 Obesity: Give children their playgrounds back, don’t staple their stomachs, pleads Jane WHY do we make rocket science out of simple solutions?

Medical experts say that drastic action is needed to save a generation of obese youngsters from dying before their parents.

So what do they recommend?

Major operations such as stomach stapling and gastric banding.

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, which is a NHS treatment watchdog, is suggesting surgery for children aged between 14 and 16 as a method of fighting obesity.

How can any sensible body recommend dodgy surgery for vulnerable youngsters when there are safe and obvious ways of reducing their weight.

School playing fields are disappearing at the rate of about one a day and half of all six-year-olds are not getting the recommended two hours of PE every week.

At the same time, there is precious little encouragement in our schools to help children eat well with many schools turning a blind eye when youngsters get fizzy drinks and sweets from vending machines instead of eating a decent meal.

Gastric surgery is a risky procedure even for adults.

Offering it to children is plain irresponsible.

Other stories from this category that may interest you: Tony, you’re an embarrassment Celebs know a han...

Read more...

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 | 39 | 40 | 41 | 42 | 43 | 44 | 45 | 46 | 47 | 48 | 49 | 50 | 51 | 52 | 53 | 54 | 55 | 56 | 57 | 58 | 59 | 60 | 61 | 62 | 63 | 64 | 65 | 66 | 67 | 68 | 69 | 70 | 71 | 72 | 73 | 74 | 75 | 76 | 77 | 78 | 79 | 80 | 81 | 82 | 83 | 84 | 85 | 86 | 87 | 88 | 89 | 90 | 91 | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | All news

Medicine