Thesis: Junk food should be banned in school campuses because it leads to illnesses, depression, and low self-esteem.
- Introduction
- Defining Junk Foods
- Why Junk Food Should Be Banned in Schools
- Junk food presents obesity risk to children and teenagers
- Availability of junk foods in school premises contributes to temptations to purchase unhealthy food items.
- Junk food has significant effects on children’s energy levels and ability to focus
- Junk food contributes to the development of chronic illnesses in children and teenagers.
- Eating junk food could lead to loss of self-esteem and develop symptoms of depression.
- Junk food does make children and teenagers experience discomfort.
- What Can Be Done
- Provide healthy food options.
- Packaged and processed snack foods must also be eliminated.
- Monitor children’s consumption of drinks.
- Sell junk foods at a higher price.
- Change students’ eating habits.
Junk Food Ban in Schools
In the world today, children and adults alike have a strong preference to foods that add lots of calories to the body but offer very little nutritional value. These kinds of foods are called “junk foods”, which are foods that lack satiation value to people. As a result, those who indulge in junk foods still crave for more food despite consuming huge amounts of it already. In return, this craving leads to overeating that contributes to various health issues such as obesity, diabetes, heart problems, and depression, among others. What makes junk food inappropriate food staple is that it replaces other more nutritional foods because it looks appealing at all times. Junk food should be banned in school campuses because it leads to illnesses, depression, and low self-esteem.
Defining Junk Foods
Junk food is the term used to describe foods that offer little to no nutritional value. Most of the time, these foods contain high amounts of sugar, calories, fat, and salt that, when taken in high amounts, could lead to various health problems. Foods considered as junk foods include candies, gums, fast food, salted snack foods, and sweet desserts. Hamburgers and pizza may also be classified as junk foods although food content and ingredients help determine whether it is junk food or not (Magee). The more natural the ingredients and preparation are, the healthier the food item is. Thus, processed foods are considered junk foods as well. When taken moderately, these foods do not pose immediate health risks to individuals especially when one eats a healthy, balanced diet.
Why Junk Food Should Be Banned From Schools
Junk food presents obesity risk to children and teenagers. Fleck (n.d.) claims a 2004 study published in the Pediatrics magazine found that fast-food consumption is a precursor to obesity in children. Based on the study, children who ate fast food items consume more amounts of fat, carbohydrates, calories, and added sugars, which accumulate in the body. As a result, they do not eat fibrous foods, fruits, and vegetables as much as children who avoid fast foods. Fleck (n.d.) further points out that exposure to high-calorie foods at an early age can develop into an addiction and craving for such foods, which increases the likelihood that they will acquire poor eating habits leading to obesity.
Availability of junk foods in school premises contributes to temptations to purchase unhealthy food items. In a study, schools reveal that 61 percent of school children can buy junk food from the school’s canteen, snack bar, or vending machines, making students vulnerable to junk food anytime they want. Beverages and items with high sodium or high sugar content are easily available such as chips, cookies, ice cream, and sweetened drinks, among others. This food availability exposes children and teenagers to obesity risks as they soon develop unhealthy eating practices. In addition, because some secondary school children are allowed to leave the school premises during lunch time, the temptation to eat junk food is higher if they can also source unhealthy food nearby (Datar & Nicosia 2013).
Junk food has significant effects on children’s energy levels and ability to focus. Junk foods are not good sources of nutrients needed by the body. Instead, they rob the body of its capacity to provide energy and concentration to kids for long periods of time, which makes children and teenagers feel chronically fatigued (Anon.). Children require physical activity in school and eating junk foods will not provide them the required energy boost they need to last them the whole day and complete their daily tasks and activities. This is because “high levels of sugar in junk food puts metabolism under stress [secreting] high amounts of insulin to prevent a dangerous spike in blood sugar levels” (Anon). Junk foods may look appealing, but are replete with energy-boosting nutrients. The inadequate levels of protein and carbohydrates in junk food makes sugar levels drop after eating, making children and teenagers feeling tired, irritable, and longing for more sugar (Anon). In addition, focus is needed when in school for children to understand their lessons well. By eating junk foods, individuals store high levels of dietary fat that could lead to poor cognitive performance. The brain will not also be stimulated enough to think, thus, decreasing the child’s chance to become a well-rounded individual as the child feels tired all the time and might have trouble focusing as the body is not receiving enough oxygen. As a result, not having physical and mental activity or the lack of it may prove to be harmful for a child’s physical, social, and mental development (Fleck).
Junk food contributes to the development of chronic illnesses in children and teenagers. Fleck (n.d.) notes that consumption of junk foods is said to be the leading cause of illnesses and diseases which could otherwise be avoided such as diabetes, heart ailments, stroke, high cholesterol, and arthritis, among others. The high fat and sodium content in junk foods could lead to hypertension or high blood pressure, renal problems, and kidney ailments (Anon). According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, if cases of chronic illnesses continue to rise due to consumption of junk foods, then by year 2050, one in three U.S. adults could be suffering from diabetes, resulting to premature death or permanent disability. Studies also reveal that “high levels of fat and sodium in junk food and fast food can contribute to heart disease by raising cholesterol levels and contributing to arterial plaque buildup” (Anon). When not checked, these fatty acids are transformed to fatty liver deposits that lead to liver disease and dysfunction.
Eating junk food could lead to loss of self-esteem and develop symptoms of depression. Self-image is very important for growing children and teenagers, and regular consumption of junk foods could mar their sense of self. Eating junk foods have an effect on a child’s physical growth and development and thus could lead to unhealthy weight gain and skin conditions. For a growing child, these bodily changes could result to lowered self-esteem especially since they would want to be accepted by their peers. Having a healthy and fit body might also be their idea of beauty, which won’t happen if they eat too much junk food. When children, especially teenagers, develop a low sense of self, it could then lead to teen depression, which can be detrimental to a child’s performance in school, growth and development, and social relationships (Ireland).
Junk food does make children and teenagers experience discomfort. Other than these symptoms, they may also experience behavioral issues, including hyperactivity and mood swings, and bouts of constipation which could lead to damaged skin. As they display disinterest in exercise, the more it will be difficult for them to lose unwanted pounds that could lead to obesity and other illnesses.
What Can Be Done
Considering the health consequences of too much junk food consumption, ongoing debates on whether schools should make junk food easily available to students are many. Revenue coming from sales of junk foods to students can add up to the income generated for the school. However, availability of junk foods poses health risks and mental and emotional problems for the individual. Because schools are where children and teenagers spend most of their time in, laying the correct foundation when it comes to food consumption is a must.
One thing that should be considered is to provide healthy food options to kids in school. Vending machines and canteens should not be allowed to sell snacks that contain high levels of fat and sugar. This includes candies, gums, and chocolates, which students tend to choose over healthful snacks. These junk foods and soda should be replaced by nutritious food alternatives such as sandwiches, fruits, or vegetable sticks.
Packaged and processed snack foods must also be eliminated due to the many preservatives contained in these food products. Food items such as frozen pizza and pastry snacks may be exchanged with baked fries and chicken nuggets instead of the usual fried variety.
When it comes to drinks, schools must monitor consumption of school children when it comes to soda and canned fruit juices. The school may opt to serve water, homemade lemonade, or sugar-free juices instead of the regular soda drinks. The school might want to offer fresh fruit juices or pureed fruit to make the drinks healthier.
Another option is to sell junk foods at a higher price than normal to discourage students from buying unhealthy food items.
Changing a student’s eating habits can be difficult if the child has been exposed to unhealthy eating habits since childhood. However, if the whole school community, including parents and guardians of students would change their eating habits to act as role models for the children, then there is still hope for school children and teenagers.
Works Cited
Anonymous. “Fast Food Nutrition: Junk Food’s Effect on Your Body.” N.d. Web. 3 December 2014. <http://www.fitday.com/fitness-articles/nutrition/healthy-eating/fast-food-nutrition-junk-foods-effect-on-your-body.html>.
Datar, Ashlesha, & Nicosia, Nancy. “Junk Food in Schools and Childhood Obesity.” 2013. Web. 3 December 2014. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667628/>.
Fleck, Alissa. “How Junk Food Affects Children.” N.d. Web. 3 December 2014. <http://healthyeating.sfgate.com/junk-food-affects-children-5985.html>.
Ireland, Kay. “How Does Junk Food Affect the Way You Concentrate.” 2014. 4 December 2014. <http://www.livestrong.com/article/461051-how-does-junk-food-affect-the-way-you-concentrate/>.
Magee, Elaine. “Junk-Food Facts.” N.d. Web. 3 December 2014. <http://www.webmd.com/diet/features/junk-food-facts>.
