Posted by Nicholas at July 6, 2006 12:41 AMWhen a news story reads like a comedy skit, something has changed. Researchers using heavy teddy bears and other extra-weight toys in order to get kids to burn more calories signals a move into some sort of perspective-free zone where the manifestly stupid does not get a second look.
The obsession over childhood obesity in America is an exercise in ignoring the obvious. Kids are fatter because they are much, much less physically active than previous generations. Opportunities for unstructured, creative play — the kind of play that goes on for hours and burns the most calories — are greatly reduced today. They are reduced for a host of reasons including smaller families, worries about safety, and neato electronic gizmos.
Heavier blocks, balls, and teddies really are not much of a factor as long as playtime is built around busy adult schedules and adult ideas about what is fun.
http://www.cnn.com/2006/HEALTH/06/29/heavy.teddy.ap/
Jeff A. Taylor, "Heavy Lifting on Obesity", Reason Express, 2006-07-05
Jeff A. Taylor has taken the pre-existing obvious, restated the obvious and yet somehow taken away from it through and obtuse layer of smugness that adds nothing.My God, you're right! The man might as well go whole hog and lower himself to be a blogger! Posted by: Nicholas at July 6, 2006 11:56 AM
...every new politically correct nay-sayer...Pot, Kettle. Kettle, Pot. Oh. I see you've met. Nevermind, then. Humph. Posted by: Jon at July 6, 2006 04:25 PM
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