Several consumer groups and the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI) have declared war on vending machines, particularly those in schools. There is a rise in childhood obesity. Ridding schools of sugary vending machines seems to be a logical thing to do to reduce the levels of obesity in children. It's as if well-meaning parents want to do something, anything to combat this serious issue. Unfortunately, what appears on the surface to be logical turns out to be misplaced energies. The removal of soda machines in schools, or even replacing the high sugar content with juices (still high in sugar), water, or diet sodas, will not only result in failure, but will be counterproductive.
Why is this? I've spoken to our nutritionists many times. They assure me of one truth: weight gain is a simple matter of calories in versus calories out. The more you eat and the less you exercise, the bigger you get. When you reverse those you get smaller.
Recent studies on diet soda tell us that those who drink diet soda tend to put on more weight that those people who drink regular sugared sodas. How can this be? Read the paragraph above and burn it into your memory, then return here. It's the ENTIRE diet, not just sodas, that contribute to calorie intake. And its your calorie expenditure that is the other side of the equation. Have you ever see folks go to the fast food restaurant and order everything super sized, including the fires and then order a diet cola?
Well-meaning parents and PTA's and school districts want to do the right thing, so they tend to pick on conveniently located external villains. First its the soda machines. Then its the birthday cupcakes. They fail to look at themselves, each and every one and say to: "How did I and/or my child get this way?" The difficult truth is that as individuals, they ate too much, or they were improperly nourished, and they exercise too little. Usually all of the above.
Studies have also shown that the Amish consume more calories in a day than the average non-Amish. Generally they are not obese. Why is that? It's because they expend more calories in a day than the rest of us. They work hard and grow their own food corps. Better nutrition and work habits.
No doubt about it. America has a weight problem, and it isn't pretty or healthy. The answer is for each of us to look at ourselves and to ask ourselves the tough questions about calorie intake and expenditure. Be honest. Turn of the computer and the TV, go out and make the right food choices and get some fresh air. Be responsible for making your own right choices.
Diet and exercise. Right on. You can't have one without the other. I have personally preached that to my own family on occasion. No argument there.
However, how can the removal of vending machines (let's say all of them, not just pop) be "counterproductive?"
Effective health promotion is a combination of health education AND environmental supports. Environmental supports come in several different flavors when looking at America's obesity problem. We can't just educate folks and tell them to exercise and not drink pop. We must support that education with external (environmental) action. For example, do these people have access to parks and bike paths (do they know where they are?). Do they know what "sufficient exercise" is? 30 minutes how many times a week? How do you keep them interested in exercise - diversity? And speaking of environmental supports, what about the tax on cigarettes? Fortification of cereal with folic acid? Wouldn't these be considered effective external supports to health promotion programs?
Let's not run out and tear down all of the McDonalds out there and replace them with Subways. However, you must marry an effective health education program with an equally effective health promotion program - and that includes environmental supports such as removal of vending machines.
Posted by: The San Man | June 06, 2006 at 07:31 PM
Sorry plkeaqse ::(
Wrong caqtegory...
wll be acerful
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