Soft Drink Consumption a Big Part of Childhood Obesity
There is another good reason why children should stop consuming soft drinks. According to a new research published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association, about 40 percent of the energy consumed by American children are empty calories, and a large percentage of those come from sugar-sweetened drinks, such as fruit juice and soda, which have little to no nutritional value.
Essentially, the statistics are not something to ignore—not with the growing cases of childhood obesity and risking kids to develop unhealthy eating habit and the likelihood of developing heart diseases later in life due to being obese. “We all develop our food preferences in childhood. Children who drink a lot of sugar-sweetened beverages including fruit juice are at risk to develop obesity and will find it hard to break the habit of consuming these empty calories in the future,” said Rae-Ellen Kavey, M.D., M.P.H., professor of Pediatrics, University of Rochester Medical Center, and author of an editorial accompanying the article which was published today in JADA.
Fresh Healthy Vending as an Important Alternative To Junk Food
A convenient society—this is perhaps the most applicable title that best describes America. The land has seen such incredible progress in years that everything seemed so effortlessly accessible and expedient for every consumer, from cell phones to pre-made foods, to online shopping, to self-checkout grocery lanes, etc. While this development is good and aimed at the best interest of every American resident, the downside unwittingly impacts the entire population. This negative backlash pertains to the prolific availability of vending machines, which has contributed to the growing obesity problem of America. And who wouldn’t be alarmed with the obesity crisis, now already regarded as an epidemic affecting particularly the children population?
The frenzied pace of the society has made every working family rely more on quick and instant solutions at meal time. Employees rush themselves during lunchtime and go to the nearest vending machine for some chips and sodas while lacking the time to go on some exercises; students in school campuses treat vending machines their gastronomic savior during every meal time; and other adults couldn’t just resist the temptation of vending machines in public places whether they are saving or splurging for meals. All are in the glorious name of fast and hassle-free access of food. Sadly, this has made America one of the most obese nations in the globe.
San Francisco asks McDonalds for Healthy Meals instead of Happy Meals
Known for its long history of public health and environmental stance, San Francisco, is about to see yet another remarkable move in its public health regulation, and this time the spotlight is on Ronald McDonalds. It seems that it won’t be too long before San Francisco kids bid their final goodbye to their favorite Happy Meal toys, following a city ordinance that would ban McDonald’s from putting toys in Happy Meals unless it adds fruit and vegetable portions and limits calories.
Supervisor Eric Mar, who proposed the law, is expecting to pass his Happy Meal bill to the committee on Monday and receive a vote by the full Board of Supervisors later this month. With a goal to protect the health of his constituents, the bill is by far the latest in San Francisco’s string of public health ordinances after it recently expanded its law banning tobacco sales in pharmacies to include grocery stores and big-box stores that also have pharmacies.
Join the Fight Against Childhood Obesity in America
America’s battle with childhood obesity continues. At least, that’s what statistics revealed, wherein two-thirds, or more than 190 million Americans are overweight or obese, and $147 billion medical burden are recorded every year. And what’s even more alarming is the rate among preschool-aged children have significantly doubled, whereas, tripled among children 6 to 19 years old over the past 25 years.
The big question we are facing now is how do we save children from being victimized by this epidemic? How do we put a stop on a crisis that gives not only social trauma among children but also a huge burden among families? Are we missing the right action here that makes obesity rate grow quicker?
New Healthy Vending and Child Nutrition Bill About to Pass in the Senate
here is a new healthy bill that is awaiting Senate’s vote and it is aimed at improving school lunch nutrition. Called Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act, the bill would increase funding per meal by $.06 so that fresh produce could be included with more frequency. Additionally, it would provide nutritional training for people working in school lunch programs.
We already know that several of the states’ school districts have been seriously monitoring its existing school nutrition guidelines and many are in fact overhauling their cafeteria’s ala carte menu to include more healthier options for students. And with the passing of this new bill, it is expected to add intensity to the nation’s fight in ending childhood obesity.
USA Must Tackle Nationwide Childhood Obesity Epidemic
Have you had the time to check what your kids are eating lately? How proactive have you been in checking with your kids’ school the kind of nutritional foods they are serving in their campus cafeterias? These are pertinent questions that shouldn’t be left unattended by parents these days considering the growing rate of childhood obesity in the US.
Statistics have already spoken the alarming concern which prompted President Obama to officially declare September as the National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, saying, “We now face a national childhood obesity crisis with nearly one in every three of America’s children being overweight or obese.”