Children in Monroe County face obesity dilemma

If you ask any parent, they'll likely say there's always a little room for improvement in their child's diet.

“It could be better, they could eat more fruits and vegetables but I believe it's OK,” says Jim Allen a Rochester parent.

“OK but not perfect,” says Bernadette Rall, also a Rochester parent.

However, new research from the Greater Rochester Health Foundation shows in Monroe County 16.4% of children ages 2 to 4 are overweight and 14.5% are considered obese. The results were among children who participated in the WIC program in Monroe County between 2003 and 2005. The results didn't surprise many parents News 8 Now spoke with on Sunday.

“I think it's because parents are so busy now that everything needs to be easier, so they do a lot of fast food, a lot of what's quickest to feed,” says Rall.  

“It's easy just to give your kids the fast food and you know, not worry about cooking them a good meal. It seems to be whatever's easiest these days,” says Pamela Scott of Rochester.  

“At home, it's the parents’ responsibility that they provide the right nutrition for their kids,” says Lance Jason of Rochester.  

However, another survey from the foundation shows parents are in denial and it may be a key reason why the weight problem is getting out of control. A phone survey of Monroe County households with 2 to 10 year olds showed

Only 7% of parents surveyed thought their children were overweight. A whopping 85% thought their children were at a perfectly healthy weight. More than 50% of parents surveyed said their child’s diet was fine. The survey was completed from October to November 2007.

The results of these surveys are major reasons why the Greater Rochester Health Foundation has set a goal of eliminating childhood obesity in Monroe County in the next ten years. The foundation will unveil its strategic plan to the public on Monday.