In 1949 when I was in the first grade, yes 1949, I walked 1 mile to school in the AM, then one mile home for lunch, then one mile back, then one mile home. In those days if there was one "fat kid" in the class that was an exception. Going back further in writing my book about the DD 649 adventures the average weight of the 18 year old recruit, height 5' 9", was less than 135 pounds, and 115 pounds was the lowest it would go before one was rejected. Men were actually enlisted below that weight level.
Now we know that the obesity in High School children is exploding. The CDC has issued a report in which they give the results of the schools which no ban snack foods as a result of this trend. We show a summary below for 2008.
The CDC report states:
"Foods and beverages offered or sold in schools outside of U.S. Department of Agriculture school meal programs are not subject to federal nutrition standards (1) and generally are of lower nutritional quality than foods and beverages served in the meal programs. To estimate changes in the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase less nutritious foods and beverages, CDC analyzed 2002--2008 survey data from its School Health Profiles for public secondary schools. This report summarizes the results of those analyses, which indicated that, during 2002--2008, the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks not low in fat increased in 37 of 40 states. From 2006 to 2008, the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase soda pop or fruit drinks that were not 100% juice increased in all 34 participating states. Despite these improvements, in 2008, the percentage of schools among states in which students could not purchase sports drinks ranged from 22.7% to 84.8% (state median: 43.7%), and the percentage in which students could not purchase soda pop ranged from 25.6% to 92.8% (state median: 62.9%). The percentage of schools in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks also varied widely among states (range: 18.2%--88.2%, state median: 61.2%). School and public health officials should increase efforts to eliminate availability of less nutritious foods and beverages at school, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) "
This is a first step. Frankly the school lunch program, as all Government programs, have substantial negative unintended consequences. Instead of 6 oz of milk and an apple, they students are offered meals which are well over 1500 kcal, and that is lunch alone. One need just add the Government sponsored breakfasts and then snack machines and we see students consuming well over 3000 kcal per day and being drive all over, thus having no exercise.
It is clear that mothers are no longer home at noon time for a variety of reasons and thus the school lunch is an essential element of the school process yet the types of food need dramatic changes. One wonders what type of nutritionists they have at school. The pity is that the students will have their entire lives altered through this process.
Now we know that the obesity in High School children is exploding. The CDC has issued a report in which they give the results of the schools which no ban snack foods as a result of this trend. We show a summary below for 2008.
The CDC report states:
"Foods and beverages offered or sold in schools outside of U.S. Department of Agriculture school meal programs are not subject to federal nutrition standards (1) and generally are of lower nutritional quality than foods and beverages served in the meal programs. To estimate changes in the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase less nutritious foods and beverages, CDC analyzed 2002--2008 survey data from its School Health Profiles for public secondary schools. This report summarizes the results of those analyses, which indicated that, during 2002--2008, the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks not low in fat increased in 37 of 40 states. From 2006 to 2008, the percentage of schools in which students could not purchase soda pop or fruit drinks that were not 100% juice increased in all 34 participating states. Despite these improvements, in 2008, the percentage of schools among states in which students could not purchase sports drinks ranged from 22.7% to 84.8% (state median: 43.7%), and the percentage in which students could not purchase soda pop ranged from 25.6% to 92.8% (state median: 62.9%). The percentage of schools in which students could not purchase candy or salty snacks also varied widely among states (range: 18.2%--88.2%, state median: 61.2%). School and public health officials should increase efforts to eliminate availability of less nutritious foods and beverages at school, as recommended by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) "
This is a first step. Frankly the school lunch program, as all Government programs, have substantial negative unintended consequences. Instead of 6 oz of milk and an apple, they students are offered meals which are well over 1500 kcal, and that is lunch alone. One need just add the Government sponsored breakfasts and then snack machines and we see students consuming well over 3000 kcal per day and being drive all over, thus having no exercise.
It is clear that mothers are no longer home at noon time for a variety of reasons and thus the school lunch is an essential element of the school process yet the types of food need dramatic changes. One wonders what type of nutritionists they have at school. The pity is that the students will have their entire lives altered through this process.
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