To help curb childhood obesity, the United States Department of Agriculture has unveiled a new proposal to bring healthier food, such as more fruits and vegetables, to the nation's public schools.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), childhood obesity has tripled over the past 30 years. Rates went from 6.5% to 19.6%, between 1980 and 2008, among kids 6 to 11 years old. And in adolescents, ages 12 to 19, jumped from 5.0% to 18.1%.
Not only does the new plan aim to increase fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, but it also seeks to cut sodium and saturated fats in cafeteria food, and to outright ban trans-fat from schools.
The new proposal would also limit the availability of many cafeteria food favorites, like pizza and French fries. Department of Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, says the initiative will affect the estimated 32 million school lunches, and 12 million school breakfasts served every year.
Ultimately the crack down on unhealthy food, and improved availability of healthy food is designed to halt the continual increase in childhood obesity, and encourage better eating habits in children for the rest of their lives.
Some conservative politicians argue the monitoring of nutrition standards in school food is no business off the federal government, but this contention is largely scoffed at by health advocates and ignored by the public at large.
Other highlights of the proposal include monitoring of snacks sold in vending machines. Additionally, once the rules take effect, schools must meet the standards in order to be eligible for federal assistance, i.e. funding.
The CDC warns that obesity in childhood increases children's risk of developing health problems, such as heart disease, type-2 diabetes, stroke, and certain types of cancer, later in life.
Image credit: VC Geist
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