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Are Schools to Blame for Making Kids Fat?

NY City Department leader claims free breakfasts are to blame for our childhood obesity problem.
school-lunches-childhood-obesity

These days, it seems that everyone has an answer as to why childhood obesity is running rampant in our country. One member of the New York City Department of Health has her own idea. She is claiming that the school’s free breakfast program is to blame.

The Program

If you’re not familiar, the free breakfast and lunch program is offered to low income families around the country. The program is meant to ensure that children aren’t going hungry. But, as we can see, most children are definitely not going hungry. Her suspicion is that many kids are eating not one, but two breakfasts (one at home and one at school). So, her idea is that kids are taking in more calories than they’re burning off. I think the last statement is quite obvious.

But does that speculated extra meal really have so much bearing that it’s causing an epidemic? Socioeconomically speaking, the proof is there, slapping us in the face. Poorer subsets of people tend to have a higher rate of obesity. But surely there must be other factors to take into account here.

The Factors

Because state and federal government fund these programs, schools are often sent foods that are cheap and plentiful. You’ll see foods that are calorie dense and often lacking in some types of nutrients. Politics aside, we only have a certain amount of money that is allocated for these types of programs – it’s not Fogo de Chao, folks.

And let’s not forget the fact that many schools are dropping the ball on mandated exercise programs. Meanwhile children, especially in rougher neighborhoods, aren’t able to go outside at will and play in a safe area. Sometimes 45 minutes of activity at school is all these children are going to get.

Then, there’s the home environment. There are exponentially more fast food places and convenience stores than grocery stores in this country. And many poorer families operate with parents who often work extremely long hours, and have no method of transportation. They simply aren’t educated in this matter. This isn’t meant to be a generalization; it needs to be addressed.

Why aren’t these factors being taken into consideration?

We simply cannot put all of our eggs in one basket. Obesity is often more simple than we try to make it out to be, but sometimes it’s not. Sometimes there are a plethora of factors that go into it, and for a health official to pinpoint such an overarching disease down to one thing is, in my opinion, just plain irresponsible. I’m not opposed to opinion, even if it doesn’t agree with mine. But it would be wise to educate ourselves before making blanket statements.

Comments

Nick Flit said on 1/24/2012 at 1:58 PM,

I think almost as important as proper eating, is the education of exercise at an early age through physical education courses that last at least a half hour each class day.

To hear about how so many of these schools are greatly reducing or completely eliminating physical education programs from the schools is troubling, and to me is a big portion (pun intended) of the problem of this fast growing childhood obesity epidemic.

When I was growing up physical education was the part of school most of us looked forward to, and it was a great way to get out that energy that sitting in a desk all day pent up.

Now it seems most school don't even have a physical education class, or if they do it is once a week-UNACCEPTABLE I SAY!

Nick Flit said on 1/24/2012 at 1:59 PM,

It is not just the schools though..Me and my brother were driving to Battle Creek Regional Park with the dogs last summer for a hike, and we remarked how sad it is that we only saw one kid playing outside on that wonderful day, and how it seems that kids today don't play outside much anymore..Instead, they are playing Wii video games inside that mimic the actual games they could be playing outside.

But truthfully it all starts at home, and kids are going to look to their parents for role models, so they have set the example of decent eating habits and somewhat regular exercise.

That being said, after watching "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution" you can see how upside down the eating is at these schools across America, and it is obvious many changes are needed-really a complete overhaul..

dominuslive said on 1/24/2012 at 9:13 PM,

I live in Iowa, but I would have to say that alot of the poor families eat more unhealthy foods because they are cheap and easy. Fresh food that expires quickly is not bought. Poorer families generally go to the grocery store once a month and stock up on things that have the ability to last a month. Also most poor families appreciate the free food their children get because it saves food at home. In my house with 4 kids, we buy alot of fresh fruits because they will be ate right away. I also do not allow junk to be bought. My kids eat breakfast at school, and I make them eat school lunch. I had to, so can they. My kids are all healthy and "thin".

Diana said on 1/25/2012 at 12:23 PM,

I have to admit that I have been in that slump before, writing bad checks just get some food and when you’re in that kind of a financial crisis, you don’t focus on what the food is just as long as it is food. It didn't matter that all I ate was top ramin 3 times a day. My daughter's daycare luckily provided breakfast, lunch and (because I worked long days) dinner too. I'm happy to say I'm in a better place now where I can afford to eat and eat healthy on top of it, but I look back and I know I did what I had to and thats what most of these low income families are thinking, they just see their kids bellies full. Yes, usually health starts at home but for a lot of kids, unfortunately it starts at school. The schools need to look at what food they are providing. They are there for the kids to help them learn and grow, that should include health and nutrition.

Karyn Menard said on 1/25/2012 at 4:15 PM,

Good healthy habits are made at home. As a child, kids are constantly being offered all kinds of unhealthy food options when away from home. Yet, just like having to stop at a fast food chain when strapped on time... you can always make healthier choices.

...Tom Brady's kid thinks broccoli is dessert!

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