Vending Machines in Schools

Schools do a “good” job in promoting certain healthy foods in their cafeterias. Yes, students do not enjoy eating them but it is for their good. The fact that schools sell the “baked” chips is a good and a bad idea. It is a good idea because they are healthier than the regular chips sold in grocery stores and smaller than regular sizes. The bad part comes to the fact that they are still being sold and most students prefer to purchase them instead of fruits. In my case, I know I would prefer to eat those chips instead of the fruits. Vending machines are rarely seen in schools but the schools that do have them do not have healthy items inside. Sodas and junk snacks are what are mostly seen in those vending machines along with others. Students

Sugary drinks are not the only problem. Vending machines are packed with foods that are high in sugar, carbohydrates, and calories. When students approach the vending machine, they have limited options. These options may include chips, baked goods, and

Obesity is the second leading cause of death in the United States. Obesity often begin in childhood and is linked to many psychological problems such as asthma, diabetes and cardiovascular risk factors in childhood. Childhood obesity is related to increased mortality and morbidity in adulthood as many obese children grow up to become obese adults (Johnson, 2016). In the last 30 years, childhood obesity has more than doubled in children and quadrupled in adolescents. In the United States, the percentage of children aged six to eleven years who were obese seven percent in 1980 has increased to eighteen percent in 2012. In 2012, more than one third of children and adolescents were overweight or obese. Overweight is defined as having excess body weight for a particular height, whereas obesity is having excess body fat. Childhood obesity can lead both immediate and long term effects on health and well-being. Obese children are likely to have risk factors for cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol. A population based sample of five to seventeen year old shows 70% obese children have at least one risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Obese children and adolescents are at risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as poor self-esteem and stigmatization. Children and adolescents who are obese are likely to be obese as adults and are at risk for adult health problems such as heart disease, stroke, type 2

Childhood obesity has become an epidemic in the United States in the past three decades. In 2012, roughly 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents are overweight or obese” (“Childhood Obesity Facts,” 2014). According to the Centers of Disease Control and

Childhood onset overweight and obesity and its’ associated health consequences are quickly becoming major significant public health issues facing America today. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define overweight as a body mass index (BMI) between the 85th and 95th percentile while obese is defined as BMI above the 95th percentile for children of the same age and sex . The prevalence of overweight children, defined based on 2009 CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics data, has more than tripled in the past 30 years. Between 1980 and 2006, the incidence of overweight among children aged 6 to 11 years increased from 6.5% to 17.0% while overweight levels for adolescents aged 12 to 19 years increased from 5.0% to 17.6% .

Childhood obesity remains a chief public health concern nowadays. During the past two decades, the prevalence of obesity among children has increased 47% globally (Brown et al., 2016). The risk associated with childhood obesity including hypertension, dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance as well as mental and emotional illnesses. Individuals who are obese during childhood are more likely to become obese during adulthood. When obesity continues into adolescence and adulthood, individuals are at risks of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, stroke, coronary vascular disease, and cancer. Obesity disproportionately affects children from ethnic minorities. Approximately one out of six US children are overweight

There is a new epidemic that is hitting America by storm in this day and age. It is a serious concern that can lead to serious health problems, social ostracism and, if left untreated, fatality. This disease is obesity, more specially child and teenage obesity in America which statistics show has reached an alarming 2.5 million for children ranging from 2 to 19. This teeming number is continually increasing and as a result, children are at an increased risk for diseases traditionally correlated with adults such as heart disease and Type II diabetes. Sadly enough, this can and will shorten the life span of children if measures are not taken. Now, there are many unknowns as to the actual causes of teen obesity and not just gluttony or

If student athletes would consume just 100 to 200 extra calories throughout the day the there would be no need discuss the problems created by school lunches. However, this solution can create multiple problems. The student would be required to pay more money because they would be the one buying and preparing the food. Another problem created by this solution is that lunch is at an ideal time to consume food because most student athletes will be playing their sport in only about 3 hours after

Obesity is a chronic health condition characterized by presence of excess of body fat. Obesity is measured by using Body Mass Index (BMI) in children 2 years of age and older. The BMI is calculated by the body weight (in kilograms) divided by the height squared in meters. In adults, a BMI between 25 and 30 kg/m2 is regarded as overweight and a BMI greater or equal to 30 kg/m2 is regarded as obese. Obesity in adults is subcategorized as class I (BMI ≥30 to 35), class II (BMI ≥35 to 40), and class III (BMI ≥40) (Klish, 2016). It is associated with physiological ailments such as hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, various forms of cancer, and is a key factor in metabolic syndrome (Must et al., 1999). A marked increase in the prevalence of overweight and obese children and adolescents has been observed all over the world in 80’s and 90’s. Evidence from the US suggests that this upward trend has continued into the 21st century ((Janssen et al., 2005). The prevalence of obesity among adolescents in the United States

Buddha once said, “ To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our minds strong and clear.” A trend started across the United States several years ago towards improving the quality of food provided for students eating school lunch. “School lunch has evolved quite a bite over the last century”(Avey). In spite of this evolution, there are many reasons why the public school system should further improve their daily lunch program. These changes would still include the daily recommended balance of fruits, vegetables, proteins, and carbohydrates. The top three reasons to improve school lunches include: obesity rate, overall grades, and lifelong habits.

Lunch is a very vital part of our day. Lunch provides one-third of our total calories for the day. A healthy lunch leads to a more nutrient intake per day. School lunches provide some healthy food, but not all. Many of the foods at our schools lead to obesity.For example, nachos leads to obesity. I thought they changed the school lunches to make them healthier. According to research done by “Journal of school Health”, the healthier our luncher are the the average student does in class.

In many schools, snacks aren’t allowed because of the risk of allergies. Also the idea that children might trade snacks. That could cause the spread of germs or kids to sell their snacks to each other for money.

The percentage of children with obesity in the United States has more than tripled since the 1970s (“Healthy Schools.”). Childhood obesity is a medical condition that affects children and teenagers who contain excess body fat. This condition is very common today, having about 3 million cases per year (“Healthy Schools.”). A sign that a child is suffering from obesity is when their weight is well above the average for a child’s height and age. Today about one in five school children, ages 6-19, are obese (“Healthy Schools.”). I will be addressing the causes, health complications, treatments, controversy, and supporting obese students.

The increasing prevalence and severity of obesity in adolescents have resulted in a higher prevalence of comorbid conditions, including high blood pressure, early development of atherosclerosis, type 2 diabetes , non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, polycystic, and disordered breathing during sleep (Daniels, 2006).

In today’s society, obesity has become an increasing problem. Even more concerning is the prevalence of obesity among adolescents, which has many health implications. Obesity in adolescents was not widely studied until recent years, and can be defined as an excess of body fat caused by an imbalance of energy (food) intake and energy output (Cummins and Macintyre, 2006). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), overweight is the body mass index (BMI) at or above the 85th percentile for children and adolescents of the same age and sex; and obesity is the BMI at or above the 95th percentile for children and adolescents of the same age and sex (CDC, 2017). In 2011-2014, the prevalence of obesity in adolescents was 20.5