No. of overweight children in Fukushima on the rise

What, oh what, are people doing living in an area where they are literally too scared to let their kids go outside? Irresponsible parenting.

Yeah they can just move out easily, no question of finances or anything, and the economy is booming. So irresponsible.

"Irresponsible parenting." Yes, your thought and comment is appreciated.

Yes I'm sure that Japanese families with overweight kids are thankful too and would love to have you and your family join them. I'm sure you can easily afford to detach from your familiar surroundings and extended family relations both emotionally and fanancially and move away so easily.

Ministry officials believe it may be due to the decreased amount of time the children spend outside in the wake of the 2011 nuclear disaster, TBS reported Saturday.

Sheer genius. I don't think anybody would have thought of that.

Move over US. You might lose your title as the fattest nation in about 100 years.

Tessa, I wonder if you would be financially able to move to a whole new city not knowing anyone there, find new employment and a buy a new house when are unable to sell your existing house, as no-one would want to buy into that area. Perhaps if you are so well off and knowledgeable about this issue you can contribute to the relocation of all residents of Fukushima. If the people of Fukushima haven't suffered enough they now have to put up with the likes of you questioning their parenting abilities too.

Heavy snowfall makes it more difficult for children to play outside for four to five months of the year?? You show me a patch of unused ground with nothing at all on it, then cover it with a couple of feet of snow, and I'll show you HEAPS of kids who would love nothing more than to go out and play in it.

Fukushima children have the highest percentage of overweight children in the country. This is a ridiculous survey. In any city or town in Japan there is an increase in overweight children and adults. Fast foods, donut shops, prepared food down stairs in the department store, etc. as well as lazy parents who rather not cook because they buy into the value of cramming schools are just a few reasons why there is a problem. "Back when I was a kid" says grandfather, we had to participate in PE and sports. Now, it is an option because everyone graduates from 9th grade as long a he/she can show up for the closing ceremony.

Maybe these 'reasearchers' need to use statistics,methodology and significance tables to get proper results otherwise they are wasting tax-payers money.......

That you end up with obese children if you keep them in the house and prevent them from normal play outside is a given. Do we really need a study to confirm the obvious?

Kids love snow to play in. They do not even notice that it is cold.

There are so few kids tha tare fat hear. Not many adults either. Percentages? More info needed.

Weight gain is often also strongly associated to mental stress and depression. I hope these kids are alright!

If the people of Fukushima haven't suffered enough they now have to put up with the likes of you questioning their parenting abilities too.

First of all, Japan is one of the richest and yet most egalitarian societies in the world (or so they love to point out). There is no excuse for this sort of thing.

Secondly, if I were a parent in that situation I would be at city hall every single day screaming blue murder until officials paid attention to my plight, and took action. There is no way I would let any child of mine grow up in those conditions. Think about how they are going to be affected in the years to come. I have already, personally, heard stories of "kekkon sabetsu" and the like. The smart ones got out early.

Certainly a lack of exercise is going to lead to statistics such as this, as is stress both personal and in the home. But I wonder if the government bother to check on whether the fact that so many Fukushima residents are still living in temporary homes four years on, many unemployed and still paying off mortgages on homes that no longer exist. Poor families have little choice in what types of food they can purchase, and cheap food often means starchy, unhealthy food items which will lead to weight gain.

The smart ones got out early

I'd suggest those with viable alternatives were able to get out. The rest are making the best out of the options realistically available to them.

if I were a parent in that situation I would be at city hall every single day screaming blue murder until officials paid attention to my plight, and took action

In a perfect world (or in some other countries) this action may well work. If the government has been unable or unwilling to relocate all residents after the disaster it's unlikely this action would get a result.