As the US is celebrating the first-ever National Obesity Awareness month this September, more and more research and study are being conducted to pinpoint the real culprit in the increase in childhood obesity rate across the nation causing chronic problems and poor diet. Recently, Early Bird Diabetes of Peninsula Medical School shows that obesity may lead to inactivity but inactivity does not lead to obesity and that decrease physical activity or movement may actually be an indicator of fatness.
Other obesity researchers on the other hand said that the role of exercise or physical activity cannot be underestimated because inactivity and obesity goes both ways. Now comes a new study from University of Michigan Medical School showing that school children who are consuming food purchased in vending machines are more likely to develop poor diet which may be associated with being overweight, obese or at risk for chronic health ailments such as diabetes and coronary artery disease.
The study also shows that any other food served in school competing with the USDA lunch program pose the same health and diet risk. The National School Lunch program is a meal program for public and non profit schools and residential child care institutions funded federally. It gives low-cost nutritionally balanced meals. The study also suggested that fresh vending snacks and drinks should be available in the school vending machines.
The University of Michigan Medical School Study is the first to look specifically at competitive foods and beverages sold at snack bars and vending machines rather than what the USDA lunch program offers. Among those surveyed in the study, 22 percent of children eat competitive food or vended food items in school a day. Consumers of this competitive food and beverage had shown significant higher sugar intakes and lower dietary fiber, Vit.B level and iron intakes as compared to non-consumers.
This study must be an eye-opener for every educational institution to look at the nutritional content of vending machines installed at their school grounds. With the nationwide fight against obesity, more and more schools are claiming that they are already complying and serving healthy meals in their school. This should be double-checked. It is recommended that school administrators plan guidelines to restrict unhealthy foods in vending machines and encourage more healthful foods for student. The report stated that schools should consider healthy vending programs by companies such as Fresh Healthy Vending that offers fresh food choices and organic snacks and drinks in it’s healthy vending machines. It is a well know fact that a healthy and well nourished child will perform better in school and will have a full academic potential, physically and mentally.