Childhood Obesity

McDonald's night for Rea Elementary a paradox Does anyone else find it both sad and incredibly ironic that Rea Elementary School teachers and administrators recently spent an evening working at McDonald's "to help entice Rea families to eat at the restaurant" while their "day job" is to educate our children about such issues as nutrition (i.e. health); and that such health education is critical nowadays because of the epidemic of childhood obesity and diabetes, which is itself in large part a function of the now taken-for-granted but nevertheless abominable practice perfected by McDonald's of marketing directly to children ("the key to attracting kids is toys, toys, toys")

A recent study released in pediatrics looks at mounting research showing that a child's media use may be linked to their body weight, not only due to the fact that they don't get as much exercise if they are watching TV and using other media, but also due to other issues related to media exposure. The new policy statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics, entitled "Children, Adolescents, Obesity and the Media," states that, "American society couldn't do a worse job at the moment of keeping children fit and healthy — too much TV, too many food ads, not enough exercise, and not enough sleep.

Whether you remember selling them door to door as a Brownie or buying them from the office Girl Scout mother, most everyone can admit to sneaking a box of Thin Mints (preferably one chilled in the freezer). But one Orange County Scout leader says that tradition is a bit too sweet. Monica Serratos of Ladera Ranch and her Daisy Troop 2753 will display a Girl Scouts 100th anniversary "cake" made of fruit at the Orange County Fair on July 27 as part of the Girl Scouts of the United States of America centennial celebration.

What started out as a rant against Costa Mesa’s Parks and Recreation Commission has turned into a lesson in government. Over the years, a recurring theme in this space has been that local elections are more important than national ones. Last week, the Costa Mesa Planning Commission proved that. By a 5-0 vote, the commission has recommended to the City Council that 28 city parks be designated “passive,” that is, certain team sports arrangements will no longer be allowed.

STEVE SMITH You've probably heard of the report or read about it in the newspaper. According to a government agency, "A growing obesity epidemic is threatening the health of millions of Americans in the United States." The report cites many reasons for the epidemic but makes a point of singling out physical inactivity as a major contributor to the problem. In past years, this would have been my segue into the perils of watching television and letting kids fritter away their time playing mind-numbing video games.

Tom McClintock The multi-million dollar campaign paid by starving teachers' unions has finally placed our sadly neglected schools at the center of the budget debate. Across California, children are bringing home notes warning of dire consequences if Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's scorched-earth budget is approved -- a budget that slashes Proposition 98 public school spending from $42.2 billion this year all the way down to $44.7 billion next year.

Life in the school cafeteria will just not be the same, said Melissa Alvarez, a ninth-grader at John Burroughs High School, who lamented two bills passed Tuesday that could make the French fries she was munching on a thing of the past. "It's not fair," Melissa said of SB 12 and SB 965, which restrict the sale of soda and junk food to students on public school campuses statewide. "We have our own money; we should be able to buy it. It's not our fault some kids buy all this junk food and gain weight."

Send AROUND TOWN items to the Daily Pilot, 330 W. Bay St., Costa Mesa, CA 92627; by e-mail to luis.pena@latimes.com; by fax to (949) 646-4170; or by calling (949) 574-4298. Include the time, date and location of the event, as well as a contact phone number. TUESDAY The Dororthy Waffarn Memorial Lecture presents "The Epidemic of Childhood Obesity and What Can Be Done?" with Dr. Floyd Culler, professor of pediatrics at UC Irvine; "Pediatric Neurology: What's New?"

Susan Menning When UC Irvine pre-med student Vivek Mehta took a volunteer position at Costa Mesa's Share Our Selves free clinic, it was primarily to enhance his medical school resume. But over the course of three years -- and 300 volunteer hours -- he learned more than how to take vital signs; he gained a greater understanding of health issues facing local immigrants and, more importantly, how to make a positive difference in their lives. Now Mehta has a new achievement to add to his resume.

FLO MARTIN I love it. Awesome. Record-breaking gas prices -- just what I've always wanted. Forum Editor Lolita Harper ("Gas prices driving us down," April 14) says that gas prices are driving everyone down. Not this writer. I'm totally stoked. Maybe you're thinking that I'm loca en la cabeza (That means "crazy in the head" in Spanish). Well, people, thank your lucky stars that you're driving in the good old U.S. of A. and not in the European Union.