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Obesity is a serious and growing problem among adolescents in the United States. According to statistics, in 1999, 13% of children aged 6 to 11 years and 14% of adolescents aged 12 to 19 years in the United States were overweight. This prevalence has nearly tripled for adolescents in the past 2 decades. A key cause for concern is that overweight adolescents are at higher risk of medical conditions such as hyperlipidemia, glucose intolerance, hypertension, and sleep apnea. Additionally, overweight adolescents are more likely to be overweight as adults, and they are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
All-cause mortality is also higher among men who were obese during adolescence.
The cause of increased overweight or obese adolescents is highly disputed. One hypothesis claims that the availability of foods high in sugar and fat in schools is to blame. The school environment is recognized as having a powerful influence on students' eating behaviors. Ecological models of health behavior posit that such influence is multilevel and includes not only intrapersonal and social and cultural factors but physical factors as well.
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In today's society, children are spending more time in schools than they are with their parents, making the school environment increasingly important in shaping their dietary habits.
School vending machines have come under scrutiny due to concerns about the impact on adolescent dietary behaviors. It is argued that these machines carry drinks and snacks that may not be the healthiest options for youths and often offer very limited, if any, healthy alternatives.
A survey conducted by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) found that vending machines in middle and high schools are filled with candy, cookies, chips, soft drinks, and other sugary beverages, with very few options for fruits or healthy snacks.
This issue has gained significant attention, and two frequently suggested solutions have emerged. The first solution advocates for the removal of vending machines from schools, as they are believed to facilitate unhealthy dietary habits in adolescents. The opposing viewpoint suggests that removing vending machines would shelter youth from making dietary decisions they will eventually face in the real world. In this essay, we will delve into the debate between these two solutions and argue that a ban on vending machines in schools is the most viable option to address the adolescent obesity crisis.
One of the primary reasons for advocating a ban on vending machines in schools is that most of these machines contain unhealthy foods. Studies have consistently shown that the great majority of secondary schools in the United States sell items a la carte in the cafeteria and through vending machines, and these sources often contain low-nutrient, energy-dense foods and beverages, commonly referred to as "junk food". Another study found that school-based snack vending machines were negatively related to the average total daily servings of fruit consumed by young adolescents. For each snack vending machine present in a school, students' mean intake of fruit servings declined by 11%.
Replacing these unhealthy options with healthier alternatives may sound straightforward, but it is not that simple. Healthier options often struggle to compete in the marketplace. This creates a conflict of interest between schools and vending companies. Many schools rely on the income generated by vending machines to fund student activities and programs. Contracts known as "pouring rights contracts" exist in the majority of schools, creating incentives for school administrators and boards not to discourage the sale of soft drinks to students. These contracts often include incentives for meeting certain sales goals, further reinforcing the dependence on vending machine revenue.
Given the financial pressures on schools and vendors, it becomes challenging to replace unhealthy options with healthier ones, as the latter may not generate the same level of revenue. Governmental involvement to regulate vending machine contents could be a potential solution. However, at present, there is limited regulation in this area, and a complete ban on vending machines appears to be the most practical approach to address the issue.
Another compelling reason for advocating a ban on vending machines is that adolescents, especially those in elementary and junior high levels, may not possess the mental capacity to make sound dietary decisions. This is exemplified by age restrictions on the purchase of alcohol and tobacco, where society recognizes that certain decisions require a level of maturity and judgment that adolescents may not yet possess.
Research indicates that more vending machines at schools lead to more low-nutrient snack selections and greater opportunities to purchase such items. Students with access to snack vending machines at school tend to choose low-nutrient vending snacks over fruits, contributing to unhealthy dietary habits. This habituation to unhealthy food choices can have long-term consequences on their health. In addition, studies reveal that among students who use school vending machines, sugar-sweetened beverages are the most commonly purchased items, further highlighting the influence of vending machines on poor dietary choices.
To counter the argument that adolescents need to make decisions they will eventually face, a compromise could be to allow high school students to make their dietary choices, as they have the mental capacity to make informed decisions. However, younger adolescents may benefit from a more controlled environment that limits access to unhealthy food options.
Vending machines also disrupt regularly scheduled meals, which can have detrimental effects on adolescents' health. Irregular eating habits disturb the natural biorhythms of the body, as the body performs certain functions on a time schedule. These disruptions can lead to problems such as spikes and crashes in blood sugar levels, affecting behavior and learning ability in children. Adolescents who consume junk food from vending machines may experience hyperactivity followed by lethargy, irritability, and difficulty concentrating.
Furthermore, vending machines undermine the school lunch program, which can be used to ensure that children's nutritional needs are met. The school lunch program provides a more controlled food environment, helping students make healthier choices. Allowing vending machines to compete with the lunch program gives students the option to skip nutritious meals and opt for unhealthy snacks instead.
In conclusion, addressing the issue of adolescent obesity and unhealthy dietary habits in schools is a pressing concern. While vending machines themselves may not be inherently problematic, their contents and the influence they exert on students' dietary choices are significant issues. The financial incentives tied to vending machines make it challenging to replace unhealthy options with healthier ones, and government regulation in this area is limited.
Furthermore, adolescents, especially those in elementary and junior high levels, may not possess the necessary decision-making capacity to make healthy choices when faced with vending machines filled with junk food. Allowing younger adolescents to access such machines can lead to poor dietary habits and long-term health consequences. Disrupting regularly scheduled meals and undermining the school lunch program are additional concerns.
Given these considerations, a ban on vending machines in schools emerges as the most viable solution to address the adolescent obesity crisis. While it may be argued that such a ban would shelter students from making decisions they will encounter in the real world, it is crucial to prioritize their health and well-being. The removal of vending machines can create a healthier school environment, promote better dietary habits, and contribute to the overall well-being of our adolescents.
Addressing Adolescent Obesity: The Debate on Vending Machines in Schools. (2016, Oct 14). Retrieved from https://studymoose.com/vending-machines-in-schools-2-essay
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