With American childhood obesity on the rise, many people claim that the specific types of foods consumed by these children are to blame. In schools around the country, snack and drink machines can be found scattered around campus. These food dispensers serve as a convenient stop for children to quickly grab something to munch on between classes or after school. The vending machines in school are not the root of the problem for the obesity of children, but rather their eating habits at home. If parents are shaping the diets of their children and influencing what foods they consume, removing the snack and drink machines will do nothing until the food choices they make at home are improved.
In the U.S, there is an excessive amount of unhealthy
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Though parents and guardians play a large role in teaching children healthy eating habits, kids are kids, and they will want to eat junk food if they have unfettered access to it. A shocking statistic reveals that soft drink consumption accounts for one third of added sugar intake in the US diet (Krebs, Himes, et al). In one study of fourth-grade and fifth-grade children, sweetened beverages constituted 51% of the average daily intake of beverages consumed. This large intake of sweetened beverages could contribute to increased energy intake, tilting the energy balance toward excessive weight gain (Krebs, Himes, et …show more content…
While this may be the case, what proponents fail to see is that schools are lacking in areas of education that could easily balance food intake with energy output. According to an article in the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, Americans overwhelmingly favored requiring healthy eating and exercise education in schools (94%), as well as requiring more time for physical education (82%) (Evans, et al, 26-32). Removing vending machines may prevent children from purchasing unhealthy snacks, but if schools do not educate children on childhood obesity and provide an increased amount of time for physical activity, the risk of obesity is still prominent.
Some parents may argue that it is the sole responsibility of schools to provide healthier snack options for their children. While schools certainly should supply better food and drink choices, it is not the school’s responsibility to teach children lifelong healthy eating habits. Parents are accountable for this type of lifelong learning; passing the buck is an unacceptable option when the health of a child is at stake. If parents do not want their children eating unhealthy snacks, it is their responsibility to advocate for their children both at school and at
“From 1989 to 2008, calories from sugary beverages increased by 60% in children ages 6
Unhealthy foods are what make the money for schools and that is why they serve them for students. (Schlafy) Schools feel like they need the extra money in the budget, even though it is at the student’s expense. Data shows that nearly 60% of all middle schools in the US serve soda from vending machines. (Schlafy) Soda is very high in sugar and is not at all good for children, but it is still sold in school vending machines. The ways food in schools is now are way too high in fats and sugars. This is not good for the children and very bad in the long run. Elementary schoolchildren have an estimated $15 billion of their own money that they can use to buy whatever they want in schools, and parents have almost another $160 billion to give students for food money. (Schlafy) Big businesses see this as a big source of profit and therefore encourage children to buy their products, and want them to be offered in school because of th4e likelihood of children buying the business’s product. All in all, obesity in the US is greatly influenced by the foods offered in schools
Consumption of soft drinks has an impact on childhood obesity. According to France Ellisle from France’s Institute of Health and Medical Research, there is a direct connection between weight gain and sugar. The average adolescent is consuming about fifteen to twenty teaspoons of sugar daily. (Scott, 2) Along with the sugar children are eating more and more fast food. The sit down dinner has come to an end. In most families both parents work fulltime leaving little time to prepare healthy meals. Parents look for food that is quick, cheap and satisfies the child. The problem with fast food is that has very little nutritious value and is often high in fat and salt content, with a good measure of preservative thrown in....
Vending machines should be permitted in schools because they can be beneficial for. students who desire a light meal throughout the day. Vending machines are low in cost and are efficient. School lunches or lunches outside the school are more expensive than the food that could be provided in a vending machine. Students are not provided with a great amount of income especially if that income is coming from their parents. When students do not have a packed lunch, or not enough money to buy a school lunch, they are led elsewhere. But students could be led to vending machines whose food choices are on their budget. In addition to this, vending machines can have healthier options than a school’s standard lunch.
Americans eat entirely too much. And the foods we are consuming are not at all healthy, they contain excessive amounts of salt, sugar, saturated fat, carbohydrates, etc. This over eating is not only a severe problem in the adult population but also in America’s children as well. Results from a study performed by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association showed that 1 to 2 year olds get 30 percent more of the 950 calories they require a day. It has also been found that another contributing factor to most children’s bad eating habits is the fact that they either rarely or never consume vegetables and fruit. Besides the lack of fresh fruits and vegetables children are consuming large amounts of sugar. Wether it be in candy or desserts, soda or sugary fruit juices children are beginning to consume these at very early ages. Results from another study performed by the Journal of the American Dietetic Association found that infants are drinking soda out of baby bottles as early as 7 months of age. In response to these disturbing facts Parents magazine published the preceding article. It outlines 10 steps that can be taken to
In “Hooked on ‘Caramel-Colored Gold,” Melody Nelson claims “Despite the increased awareness of the benefits of good nutrition, we are a nation hooked on junk food, and many school administrators are taking advantage of the situation ” (par. 3). Nelson propose a ban on vending machines in schools because junk food is unhealthy for children, and they risk future health problems. I agree with Melody Nelson and believe that vending machines should be banned from school campuses, because they sell unhealthy food, they cause more money to schools for hiring extra custodians, and they are affecting children learning abilities.
Some researchers claim that more than 300,000 Americans are dying due to obesity every year and the number is rising annually. That is a huge number and it can be fixed a number of ways but some individuals are lazy some can’t lose the weight because of medical reason. Obesity causes disease from diabetes to heart disease and in some cases death. Obesity in children is growing problems to children who are obese have a higher chance to get diabetes or heart failure. The school environment is one of several settings that can influence children’s food choices and eating habits. Schools can ensure that the available food and beverage options are healthy and help young people eat food that meets dietary recommendations for fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nonfat or low-fat dairy products.
The health of the nation’s youth has been under scrutiny lately due to recent reports that are showing an increase in average body mass index (BMI), poor physical fitness, and elevations in blood sugar, blood pressure, and blood lipids (Eagle, Gurm, Goldberg, DuRussel-Weston, Kline-Rogers, Palma-Davis, Aaronson, Fitzgerald, Mitchell, Rogers, Breunger, Jackson, and Eagle 2010). Eagle et al. (2010) Attribute the decrease in health to “fast food, lack of physical activity due to increased TV and computer screen time, and there is also an expanding appreciation for an inherited basis for childhood obesity” (P.1185). Sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) account for on average 159 calories daily and an average of 9 tablespoons of added sugar daily (Briefel, Wilson, Cabili, & Hedley Dodd, 2013). ...
Vending machines should be allowed is because it provides snacks , candy , and drinks . I think vending machines should be allowed in school is because if you are hungry you can go up and by one . Also if you didn’t have breakfast you could get something to eat from there. Last it could help the students in school .
First of all, an increasing amount of kids are becoming overweight because their schools pressure them to eat sugary, fatty, and high-calorie foods. Not only do many schools promote consumption of harmful foods, many schools also actively serve them in school lunches. In 1963, 4% of kids were obese; currently, approximately 17% of kids are obese. Some might argue that kids themselves are the reason for the increase, because school lunches also provide healthier foods. Unfortunately, most kids do not have much of a choice - healthier foods are priced much higher than their unhealthy counterpart, consequently many parents do not want their kids to buy the more expensive, yet healthier product. In my 3½ years ...
To conclude, unhealthy foods in the cafeteria and the vending machines are the worst examples for the kids to maintain the healthy eating habits. Us Parents have to step in to make changes for our kids because in doing so would determine what kind of foods our kids are consuming. We do know for facts they are not getting the proper nutrients while in school, although they do spend in average of eight to 12 hours in schools. We, the parents, can start to make a difference, by attending the school meetings and being active in our kids functions in schools.
Since the fast food industry is targeting America’s youth, providing healthier options on children’s menus will reduce the rate of childhood obesity and allow for a healthy future.
Today, we face the problem of getting kids to make healthy choices in their diet. Students spend about half of their day in school eating breakfast and lunch.That’s why it is important to put healthy foods in their lunch. Although, students complain about not being able to consume sugary drinks or sweets it is for the best. They don’t see that many kids who struggle with obesity or being overweight are regretting not making better choices in the past. If we want kids to be more active and healthy we have to convince them by banning candy and soda.
The cause of obesity is now solved or is it !!!!. There are many questions to answer about school vending machines and how kids obesity has grown lately. Young teenagers need to watch their eating habits because it has gotten out hand. Schools should keep and allow snacks because they are a valuable at certain times during the day. schools should keep vending machines because there would be an opportunity to make extra money.
Childhood obesity is a health problem that is becoming increasingly prevalent in society’s youth. For a number of years, children across the nation have become accustomed to occasionally participating in physical activities and regularly snacking on sugary treats. In result of these tendencies, approximately one third of American children are currently overweight or obese (Goodwin). These grim statistics effectively represent all the lack of adult interference, in regards to health, has done to the youth of America. The habits of over consuming foods and under participating in physical activities are all too common in the children of today. Children cannot solve this issue alone, though. These young people need to essentially be given the opportunities to make positive health decisions and learn about good, nutritional values.