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Childhood Obesity In Schools

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There is no doubt that obesity has plagued America, affecting children and adults alike. One of the many culprits of obesity within children is the sources of excess junk food being provided within schools. For years, people have fought to eradicate vending machines, as well as sugar and fat filled foods all together. Although schools selling junk food to children is believed to be the main contributor to childhood obesity, there is a plethora of research and evidence found that say otherwise. Junk food should not be banned in schools because governments should not be able to regulate what a person can or cannot eat, kids simply do not want to eat an all healthy meal every day all the time, and furthermore, there has been studies that have …show more content…
Carolyn Thompson reveals that ““the stuff we had to offer, the wouldn’t eat,” said Caitlin, III., Superintendent Gary Lewis, whose district saw a 10 to 12 percent drop in lunch sales, translating to $30,000 lost…” (4) This suggests that any efforts to make students eat healthier foods were ineffective. Kids were opting to not eat altogether instead of buying foods they don’t desire. Investigations have also revealed how the students felt about the whole ordeal. Lauren Jones, a 13 year old middle schooler claims that “Having something sweet to go with your meal is good sometimes,” (Jalonick and Cass 11) The loss of junk food sales in schools not only agitate students who are upset that they can no longer purchase a snack of their choice, but it also hinders the school board. Students are becoming less and less intrigued in buying school food in general as the absence of junk food becomes more and more prevalent. This results in schools losing approximately $200,000 in sales. (Losing Money Seattle 2) In their efforts to enforce students to eat healthier, schools have cut one of their most successful and efficient means of …show more content…
Many reports claim quite the contrary. Radford states that after a study lasting nearly a decade, it was discovered that the same percentage of kids from two different schools, one selling junk food, and the other not selling junk food, were obese.(7) This means that whether junk food was being sold and distributed in schools or not, there is no direct correlation between junk foods in schools and childhood obesity. As aforementioned, eating these sugar and fat saturated treats is not the most profound factor to obesity; “public health experts agree that the most important solution to childhood obesity (or adulthood obesity, for that matter) is to get off the couch and run around the block, or the basketball court, or the soccer field.” (Jacobs and Carson-Dewitt 7) Among recent studies and reports, it has been revealed that middle schoolers not only eat junk food at school, but if they cannot attain any snacks in their learning environment, then they will find ways to get them at home or from a friend. (Radford 3) Therefore, removing sources of junk food would be pointless, if not malignant to schools due to the numerous ways children can get sugary snacks and the eventual decline in

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