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School Lunch and Obesity
The newest study out of the USDA’s Economic Research Service focuses on school meals and obesity. The findings? Students who eat school lunch are just as likely to be overweight as students who do not.
For both groups, the numbers are shocking. The researchers found that a whopping 40 percent of students in the sample (2,314 students in 287 schools) were either overweight or obese. Over 20 percent of students were obese. But the effect of participation in the National School Lunch Program on weight outcomes was statistically insignificant, they found.
The study also looked at the eating habits of school meal program participants and non-participants. The results were mixed. Researchers found that children who ate school breakfast consumed significantly more calories from desserts and baked goods than those who did not. On the other hand, students who ate school lunch consumed fewer sugar-sweetened beverages throughout the day than students who brown-bagged it. And elementary school students who ate school lunch consumed a slightly lower percentage of their calories from low-nutrient, energy-dense foods. Still, the difference was small, and for both groups, the percentage was extremely high — non-participants consumed 25 percent of calories from junk food, while participants consumed 22 percent. And that was only at the elementary level; in secondary schools, the difference was insignificant.
The authors of the study noted that school meals can affect nutrition and health, even if participation is not linked to obesity. The high consumption of sweets among school breakfast participants suggests “some room for improvement,” they write. They also pointed to the “substantial” consumption of French fries among lunch participants, “which may both increase their intake of energy, sodium, and saturated fat and also crowd out the consumption of more healthful vegetables.”
When you distill it down, the study shows that students who eat school lunch eat just as poorly as those who do not. It’s good to know that school lunch participants are just as likely to be overweight as non-participants. But the numbers are equally dismal for both groups. This is no victory for the National School Lunch Program.
July 18th, 2009 at 3:40 pm
They way we eat lunch in school is a reflection of how we eat in America! This is one reason why schools should be filled with better food AND with curriculum that connects food to the cafeteria along with school garden programs.
Also note, that obesity is not the only health issue plaguing American children. They also suffer from asthma, allergies, behavioral issues and much much more. Its ALL related to the quality of food they are eating!
It’s time to stop counting calories and fat grams and focus on REAL food and food based education instead.