Doctors at a major Boston hospital report they are seeing more hungry and dangerously thin young children

[Blu-ray]

Food prices are drastically increasing. Families are having a harder time getting their dollar to go further than before. Interesting how in a country with so much, our most vulnerable citizens suffer.

Many families are unable to afford enough healthy food to feed their children, say the Boston Medical Center doctors. The resulting chronic hunger threatens to leave scores of infants and toddlers with lasting learning and developmental problems.
Before the economy soured in 2007, 12 percent of youngsters age 3 and under whose families were randomly surveyed in the hospital’s emergency department were significantly underweight. In 2010, that percentage jumped to 18 percent, and the tide does not appear to be abating, said Dr. Megan Sandel, an associate professor of pediatrics and public health at BMC.

“Food is costing more, and dollars don’t stretch as far,’’ Sandel said. “It’s hard to maintain a diet that is healthy.’’

The emergency room survey found a similarly striking increase in the percentage of families with children who reported they did not have enough food each month, from 18 percent in 2007 to 28 percent in 2010.

Pediatricians at hospitals in four other cities - Baltimore; Little Rock, Ark.; Minneapolis; and Philadelphia - also reported increases in the ranks of malnourished, hungry youngsters in their emergency rooms since 2008. But Boston’s increases were more dramatic, said Sandel, a lead investigator with Children’s HealthWatch, a network of researchers who track children’s health. Researchers said higher housing and heating costs in Massachusetts probably exacerbated the state’s surge.

BMC has also seen a 58 percent increase, from 24 in 2005 to 38 in 2010, in the number of severely underweight babies under the age of 1 who were referred by family physicians to its Grow Clinic, where doctors provide intensive nutritional, medical, and other services to boost babies’ growth. Such malnourishment is similar to what is more typically seen in developing countries, Sandel said.

Among the children treated at the clinic last year was Jordan Turner-Goode, who at age 1 weighed just 19 pounds, while the average child that age is more than 24 pounds.

http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/heal...rying_doctors/

[Nu Kua]

I am so very sorry for the children. If we had any gumption as a people we'd be working hard to change things and teach people how to be more self sufficient, to come together as a community and produce more of their own food.

But then what does our society care about children anyway? Look at all we turn our eyes away from and remain silent about. I don't know what it would take to wake up this brainwashed, half-mind dead public. Well I do but it'll be a long time coming and in the meantime, our children suffer needlessly because of our laziness, our idea that "Somebody else should do something" and willingness to hand over all our power to fix anything, to a large impersonal government entity that cares even less than they do.
And yes, they all are our children the way I look at it, and they are all our elders, too. We should take better care of the innocent and the helpless.

It's not impossible, just too many people think it is. There are some big hurdles to jump but look at the alternative. But like I touched on in another thread, the people haven't suffered enough to light a fire in their consciousness.

Because too many people think it is impossible, maybe it becomes impossible.
It's too sunny outside to be thinking so darkly over coffee.
Sometimes I wish I didn't know anything about anything important.

I wish there was a God who would come back and see the disrespect we've given the world and each other, and fix it. Fixing it wouldn't be pretty for about 80% of the population, but I think it would be quick.
Yeah, sometimes I find myself wishing for a Savior of sorts. But then I wake up.

[Ningishiddza]

Food prices are drastically increasing. Families are having a harder time getting their dollar to go further than before. Interesting how in a country with so much, our most vulnerable citizens suffer.

No they aren't.

That's just bad parenting. Look at who you're dealing with, the "Me First" Generation and the "Me, Myself and I" Generation and you expect those selfish twats to make sacrifices for their children?

Not gonna happen.

[Traveler]

No they aren't.

That's just bad parenting. Look at who you're dealing with, the "Me First" Generation and the "Me, Myself and I" Generation and you expect those selfish twats to make sacrifices for their children?

Not gonna happen.

No its not. Because of all the rules and regulations brought in "for our protection and profits of monopolies" Just about every bit of food that enters our mouths has to be paid for from approved retail outlets.

Rents and utilities go up and wages stagnate and there just is not enough money available to go around.

This situation has no choice but to get worse.

[Reef Badlaw]

The staggering costs of Massachusetts-only Romneycare is probably adding-to the problem... a certain number of parents are trapped in the system, financially. The 'Me'-generation isn't that all-pervasive, else we'd have heard about this problem in California way before this.

[Nu Kua]

No its not. Because of all the rules and regulations brought in "for our protection and profits of monopolies" Just about every bit of food that enters our mouths has to be paid for from approved retail outlets.

Rents and utilities go up and wages stagnate and there just is not enough money available to go around.

This situation has no choice but to get worse.

I agree with Traveler up to a point. Food prices are climbing and fast, and after this summer they will be extraordinarily high compared to the wages people are making just to get by. I do think there is a choice but wonder if the people have the balls enough to make it happen. Maybe instead of increasing the food stamp rolls, some of that money went into cultivating community gardens and farms instead. People who don't farm could buy local and the prices would be lower because it would be integrated in such a way that there'd be healthy competition among suppliers, that would keep the prices low and they'd be lower anyway because there's be very little shipping costs involved.

Also as per the food benefit program, I'd not have it in me to end it in one fell swoop, with no plans or preparations, but one thing I'd do right now if I had the power would be to only allow real food to be bought- no candy, cookies, chips or pop- sugar lobbies be damned. If the people want those things they can buy the raw ingredients and make them, themselves.

[Bob]

I told you we'd find the way to solve the "childhood obesity" issue. Hooray for Republican party fiscal policy!

[Tsunami]

One of the mothers cited is 27 with 3 young sons. I wonder if they were born after the reccesion or after she became unemployed?

I have a friend who I hate to criticise but she always complains about the cost of feeding her family. They do however have the latest consoles, cable and expensive cigarettes.

[Nu Kua]

One of the mothers cited is 27 with 3 young sons. I wonder if they were born after the reccesion or after she became unemployed?

I have a friend who I hate to criticise but she always complains about the cost of feeding her family. They do however have the latest consoles, cable and expensive cigarettes.

Doesn't that just make you want to whop her upside the head? These people are slaves to the "Rampant Consumerist" mindset; it has become their God, whom they sacrifice their children at the alter of.

[Tsunami]

It does, I would happily knock some sense into her but I dont think it would make much difference.

I will also add that it's not the generic food she complains about but branded!

[Marseyus]

Yes the food prices are rising, and it is getting harder and harder for people to feed themselves, espically young children and teenagers (anyone who has ever been or raised a teenager knows how ravenous those zombies are hehe) But i agree whole heartedly with Nu Kua, less giving and more helping. Instead of giving them handouts, help them help themselves.

Yea i have friends who also complain about how hard it is to feed themselves and then show off there brand new 72" flat panel or something like that, it's where most of my games and consoles and toys came from "yea i'll trade you $400 of groceries for your xbox 360 and some of your games" I mean seriously there making out more on the deal than i am. But either they accept it and we both get something, instead of a hand out. Or they don't accept and usually stop asking me for money or if they do bring it up i'll remind them of my offer.

[Scuba]

No its not. Because of all the rules and regulations brought in "for our protection and profits of monopolies" Just about every bit of food that enters our mouths has to be paid for from approved retail outlets.

Rents and utilities go up and wages stagnate and there just is not enough money available to go around.

This situation has no choice but to get worse.

Pardon me? rules and regulations implemented to insure food products are safe to consume are what's driving foods costs up? You need to stop listening to the right wing. It's called fuel costs... which have tripled in the last 10 years. regulations were there for a LOT longer than 10 years.

[Bob]

One of the mothers cited is 27 with 3 young sons. I wonder if they were born after the reccesion or after she became unemployed?

I have a friend who I hate to criticise but she always complains about the cost of feeding her family. They do however have the latest consoles, cable and expensive cigarettes.

As a parent of 3 teenage boys I think I can say with a high degree of accuracy, that you can always find something to eat in this country, but the latest consoles, Cable and cigarettes( they're all expensive) prevent murder. And can't we all agree that murder is bad?

[Tired Old Man]

One of the mothers cited is 27 with 3 young sons. I wonder if they were born after the reccesion or after she became unemployed?

I have a friend who I hate to criticise but she always complains about the cost of feeding her family. They do however have the latest consoles, cable and expensive cigarettes.

It ain't like it use to be. My family never had a lot when I was growing up. But we always had food to eat. Sometime late, but still we had food. Out of five kids to feed only two of us stayed skinny. We could eat chocolate cake with ice cream all day and still never gain a pound.
We didn't have a car. My Dad drove a Cab. We almost never had a TV. I use to find TV's people through out. Check the tubes at Eckerd's, then bug my Dad for the money to fix it. But they never lasted long.

Kids going hungry in America ? Bullshit. Kids being neglected ? Yep.....
There is a difference.

[Tsunami]

Other things that bug me are people on benefits buying Nike shoes for the baby in a pushchair to be wheeled down to the shops to fetch a flaggon of cider. Paid for with benefits.

Following on, Bob, it depends who you murder ;)

It's the same over here in the UK, the people most likely to go hungry are those that are working. The career-procreators never go without.

[Tired Old Man]

Other things that bug me are people on benefits buying Nike shoes for the baby in a pushchair to be wheeled down to the shops to fetch a flaggon of cider. Paid for with benefits.

Following on, Bob, it depends who you murder ;)

It's the same over here in the UK, the people most likely to go hungry are those that are working. The career-procreators never go without.

I can remember when my Mother brought home some government cheese. My Dad had a fit. It ain't like it use to be.
It use to be a family needed help. Now we try to support them.

Paid for with benefits.....

Go shopping at any food store. Look at the people with the half EMPTY carts.
They pay cash. Full carts ? Bought and paid for by you and me.
If you need to know who is paying with what, at least here in the U.S. , it 's not that hard to see. Food is paid for with WIC. You have to pay cash for toilet paper. And even snack food in some states.

I'm not saying people don't need help. But it has gone beyond that.
Sell your soul to the devil ? No need to . The Government is here for you.

[SmokinJoe]

No they aren't.

That's just bad parenting. Look at who you're dealing with, the "Me First" Generation and the "Me, Myself and I" Generation and you expect those selfish twats to make sacrifices for their children?

Not gonna happen.

This. I can guarantee you that most of these cases were a result of bad parenting, parenting keeps getting worse and worse by the generation.

[SmokinJoe]

One of the mothers cited is 27 with 3 young sons. I wonder if they were born after the reccesion or after she became unemployed?

I have a friend who I hate to criticise but she always complains about the cost of feeding her family. They do however have the latest consoles, cable and expensive cigarettes.

bet you shes also driving a nicer car than i am right now.

[Bob]

Other things that bug me are people on benefits buying Nike shoes for the baby in a pushchair to be wheeled down to the shops to fetch a flaggon of cider. Paid for with benefits.

Following on, Bob, it depends who you murder ;)

It's the same over here in the UK, the people most likely to go hungry are those that are working. The career-procreators never go without.

Just in case you didn't know, NIKE brand shoes are sometimes, some of the cheapest shoes available, overseas child labor, which is despicable, but legal in the far east countries. So go easy on the shoe buyers, they basically all come out of the same shop with different names stuck on them. I can only assume that a flaggon of cider in the UK is different from cider here in the US.

For tired old man: The only thing you can get with WIC is formula, milk, cereal, and peanut butter. Talk about living high on the hog!
Funny thing is, all of those food giveaway programs started out as a program to keep food prices higher, less milk, higher price, voter in Wisconsin love it.
Same thing with food stamps, a trickle up subsidy to the food manufacturing conglomerate, (remember when they were called farmers?) It cost money to keep those warehouses full of food, so giveaway the overage to the "poor" and the company gets full retail price up the chain, grocer, wholesale, food manufacturing conglomerate. Try to remember the guy who uses a food benefit understands he doesn't need it, but man it sure does help feed hungry teenagers.