Lack of parent willpower may contribute more to juvenile obesity than under-exercising or overeating.
Research suggests that having overweight parents is a big, influence ( 影响) upon a child' s weight, with one study finding that child ren with overweight parents were four times more likely to be overweight themselves.
The findings add heat to an already fierce political debate（争论）over childhood obesity. The Prime Minister, John Howard, last week decided that $116 million be Used for programs to deal with obesity, while the Opposition Leader, Mark Latham, recently announced that his party would move to protect children from unhealthy food advertisements
Clare Collins a senior lecturer at the University of Newcastle, believes such programs will definitely fail unless they influence the way of life of whole families. "If we can' t get parents to take action against their own weight problems, then we can' t expect to influence their kids," she said.
However, Professor, Louise Baur from the Children’ s Hospital at Westmead, doubts whether adult education programs offer any solution to weight problems. "Many parents know they need to lose weight and they know it influences their kids, but they lack the willpower to do anything about it.
The 10-year study of 150 American children found two-thirds of children with overweight parents became overweight. Only one in six children whose parents were of average weight became overweight.
The president of the Australasian Society for the .Study of Obesity, Associate Professor Gary Wittert, said parents needed help in doing their job and the Opposition Party’s policy（政策） might be on the right track.
"We know that driving without a seat belt is unsafe, so we make law against it,” he said."Obesity is a major public health concern, so why shouldn’t we change the law regarding unhealthy food ads?"
1. What does the underlined phrase “juvenile obesity” mean?
A. Adult education. B. Childhood overweight
C. Parents’ influence D. Growing pains
2. What is TRUE about the programs supported by the Prime Minister?
A. Debates on them will become less fierce.
B. They will be effective in dealing with obesity.
C. A large sum of money will be spent on them.
D. They will influence people' s way of life.
3.Both Collins and Baur believe that overweight parents_______,
A. will come up with .better solutions
B. will help with their children' s education
C. should be more active in reducing weight
D. should carry out at least 10 years' study
4. According to some experts, the Opposition Party's policy________.
A. can help fight against unemployment
B. may protect kids from unhealthy food ads
C. should be brought back to the right track
D. will work well to prevent traffic accidents
