Tucson Middle School Teachers Ban Processed Snacks
by tcguestblogger on Nov. 10, 2011, under Uncategorized
Luis Lozano
By Luis Lozano
In Arizona, our children’s obesity rate is over 30.2%, and is currently the second leading cause of preventable death. Obesity has been associated with Heart disease, Stroke (Cerebrovascular diseases), chronic lower respiratory diseases, and Diabetes (Kochanek, 2009). Childhood obesity is most common chronic disease in children. What is worse is that fact that this is more than tripled since 1980, and it continues to rise.
Organizations such as The Obesity Action Coalition and The Arizona Department of Health Services have initialed many programs designed to lower childhood obesity rates in Arizona, but rates continue to rise faster than many other states. Any health center will tell you that we can control factors like what food we eat and exercise, but what if our kids aren’t being taught correctly?
Taking matters into their own hands, Tucson teachers like Leticia Moreno have begun to take away processed snacks form our kid’s lunches. Sometimes these kids may not have other snacks to eat, but is it better to eat “junk food” or not eat at all? Processed foods like chips, soda, and candies have excess calories, sugars and additional chemical that can accumulate in the body and cause future health complications.
Dr. Vereecken illustrates the need for children to start eating and exercise habits earlier in life (Vereecken, 2010) (Nyberg, 2011). At a young age children will engrain their lifestyle habits that will follow them to adolescents and adulthood. Is it the responsibility of parents or teachers to promote healthy eating habits?
Dr. Massiera shows that parents may no longer have that authority (Massiera, 2010). On April 15, 2005 the Arizona Senate passed a junk food in schools ban, which essentially gives teachers the final say as to what is eaten.
For these reasons, teachers like Moreno have stepped up their policy to ensure healthy snacks, but who has the final say in our kid’s diet, teachers or parents?
This food ban takes away the sovereignty of parents to guide their children as they see fit, but is parental pride really worth increased rates of childhood obesity? The most powerful and healthy interventions incorporate multiple forms of support. Parents that support teachers, doctors, and the law may in fact be the best form to reduce childhood obesity that is ravaging our state.
If nothing more, healthy eating habits such as cooking together from an early age will promote common unity, self efficacy, and other lifestyle changes. Your child may be your responsibility, but let’s face it; do mommy and daddy always know what’s right? Doctors, teachers, and nutrition policy makers have dedicated their lives to help our future leaders lead healthier lives, maybe we should listen.
Luis Lozano, has a Master of Public Health in the division of Environmental Health Science at Yale.He is a native Tucsonan who is investigating the association of waterborne disease exposures in children.
Citations:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Children’s Food Environment State Indicator Report, 2011.
Kochanek, K. D., et al., Deaths: Preliminary data for 2009. National Vital Statistics Report. Vol 59, number 4. March 16, 2011
Masseira F., et al., A Western-like fat diet is sufficient to induce a gradual enhancement in fat mass over generations. Journal of Lipid Research. 2352-2361, August 2010
Vereecken CA,. A longitudinal study on dietary habits and the primary socialization of these habits in young children. Vakgroep Maatschappelijke Gezondheidkunde 2010;72(5-6):295-308.
