Category: Health, Science Author : Kim LaCapria Posted: January 17, 2012
Tags : junk food, junk food and childhood obesity, junk food and education, junk food bans, junk food in schools, nanny state, school rules, silly, sugar and ADHD
It turns out that allowing kids and families to (gasp!) make their own choices doesn’t lead to obesity, a new study has revealed.
In my own children’s school, not only is casual consumption of home lunches with ingredients deemed “unhealthy” verboten, but this year a draconian policy was enacted prohibiting birthday cupcakes and parties within the walls of the gulag. Instead of the one cupcake a week average children were consuming to celebrate occasions in the past- as well as holiday parties- kids are now escorted down to the office, where they receive a junk food-free pencil in solitude to mark their birthdays. I am not making this up.
While you may come down on one side or the other of the junk food in schools debate, it has also been indicated by studies that sugar has little to no effect on the hyperactivity of children- which means that policies micromanaging what kids put in their mouths as well as the presence of junk food “police” are an attention-sapping waste of time in schools. The study, published in the journal Sociology of Education, accounted for several factors when determining the effect of allowing junk food- referred to in the study as “competitive food”- in schools:
Employing fixed effects models and a natural experimental approach, they found that children’s weight gain between fifth and eighth grades was not associated with the introduction or the duration of exposure to competitive food sales in middle school. Also, the relationship between competitive foods and weight gain did not vary significantly by gender, race/ethnicity, or family socioeconomic status, and it remained weak and insignificant across several alternative model specifications.
One possible cause cited in the study were firmly established snacking habits by the time a child was in the fifth grade or older.
[Image: Shutterstock]
Jan 17, 2012
Who funded this study? Nabisco?
Jan 17, 2012
I'd like to know who exactly sponsored those studies…Hostess (twinkies)? Coca Cola? Kraft?
Until parents realize that preservative laden foods and HFCS foods are actually poor choices then they need some help in that area. Convenience is hardly a substitute for health.
Jan 17, 2012
it is all about moderation and metabolism~I eat what I want, when I want, and as much as I want~I am 46 years old and am the same size as I was in 5th grade and after 3 children, I weigh 105, only 6 pounds more than 1976, when I was in 5th grade. I TOTALLY AGREE with the findings.My adult children are the same way.
Jan 17, 2012
I do wish that schools would offer more fresh food choices and less breaded and fried things, but I do like the perspective that it isn't a particular food that causes obesity, it is our choice to over-consume that does. Of course, in the interest of full disclosure, I do work for a candy manufacturer! And I used to work at Kraft!
Jan 17, 2012
While I respect your opinion and admire your miraculous metabolism (that is really something!), not everyone is as blessed as you. Many of us eat moderately and still struggle with our weight. It is sad that so many kids struggle like this every day, and convenience foods are a big problem for them.
Jan 17, 2012
Whats sad is that parents don't moderate food & encourage activities that keep them healthy. I am the same way as Billie ^ and agree with this article that's impeding on citizens right to make their own decision. That's the main issue here if parent's aren't doing enough at home there's nothing anyone else can to to change it.
Jan 17, 2012
Jessica Schumacher Kara If parents won't practice moderation, kids won't either. I don't want my tax dollars spent paying for the healthcare of obese kids who's parents could not take the responsibility of teaching good eating habits through not only direct action but by example as well. That is the bottom line for me.
Jan 17, 2012
Convenince!?! Last I checked Natural foods cost way more then those "preservative laden foods" At Whole Foods mart $100 gets maybe a quarter of $100 gets at say Kroger or Walmart. When being healthy falls from upper middle class to where the rest of America has fallen then it'll be more prevalent. An easy comparison are the "Fresh" Salads at Mcdonald's $7 or more vs the overly processed McDouble for a dollar, give a struggling american a choice between 7 sandwiches and 1 salad you do the math and get of your high horse. Not everyone has the luxury to buy ingredients for one salad over a weeks worth of Ramen noodles.
Jan 18, 2012
Anevar: I really hate when people say that actual health, whole foods are more expensive than preservative laden ones. Do you know how much a pound of organic beans is? I bet you don't. I will tell you it is less than a can of Chef Boyardee. Do you know how much a whole chicken is compared to a bucket of chicken and fat filled sides at KFC. The whole chicken is cheaper as is a head of broccoli and a baked potato. Really. I have done the math. I am not upper class. I just want to be healthy and I don't want my tax dollars to pay for the healthcare of people who chose to only eat crap. You can't just look at today. You need to look at the long run. If you don't, your life will be short.
Jan 18, 2012
Jen, sent you a "message" regarding your maiden name and relatives. hope you check messages. Have a friend whose roots are in Brownsville, PA.
Jan 18, 2012
"… indicated by studies that sugar has little to no effect on the hyperactivity of children… " Seriously? I find that a little hard to believe. I've witnessed my niece after just a small handful of candy, and find the idea that sugar has no effect on her level of energy to be laughable. Actually, I did give a little chuckle when reading that!
Jan 18, 2012
Instead of cupcakes bring strawberries and bananas Make juice shakes. Lots of healthy alternatives. I think that more schools object to the time that a party celebration takes away from the classroom time. Say there are 26 kids in the class that's 26 times a classroom is interrupted for a birthday celebration.
Jan 18, 2012
Not as likely as every other "being fat will kill you!!!" study being sponsored by the diet industry complex.
Jan 18, 2012
I think that the best thing that we can do for kids is give them information, healthy food options, and movement options that they enjoy and encourage a lifelong love of healthy foods and exercise and an appreciate and desire to take care of their bodies, rather than instilling a fear of getting fat.
Jan 18, 2012
I agree with Ragen – it's important to teach people about food, instead of just banning something. I would like to see more PE (physical education) and HE (home economics including how to cook) back in schools.
Jan 18, 2012
Wouldn't increasing physical education be a better option than banning different kinds of food? And giving them lots of healthy food options is a good idea, but banning birthday cake will just make it more desirable not less!
Jan 19, 2012
In Jennifer's defense, she's a spaz, not hyperactive, just like her daddy
Jan 19, 2012
I think giving our children lots of opportunities to excersise and enjoy healthy food options and teaching them to love there bodies at any size and treat them well is very important.
Jan 19, 2012
Give kids more choices for physical activity, get creative about getting them interested in moving their bodies, focus some of their education on healthy foods and understanding nutrition – teach them that all their body shapes and sizes are good bodies and are worth caring for and watch as we raise a whole generation of people who take good care of themselves!
Jan 19, 2012
Can someone cite studies with data that confirms that banning whole food groups and making children hyper aware of 'bad foods' has any effect on eating habits besides creating disordered eating?
Jan 20, 2012
I didn't even have to read the whole article to say this: If the schools spent their money and time putting physical activity back INTO the kids' day instead of trying to police food, they'd be so much better off and these conversations might not even be taking place…