Grammer White

With current trends showing a rise in childhood obesity, there has been an increased awareness of the importance of healthy eating habits. Many communities in the United States and other countries have responded with improvements in school lunch programs and other efforts to educate the public about proper nutrition. Nevertheless, junk food remains readily available, and as many as one out of three children between the ages of 4 and 19 continue to reach for it. Some studies have shown that kids who eat junk food take in at least an extra 150 more calories a day and consume an insufficient amount of vitamins, fiber, protein, and other nutrients.

Popular junk foods include sweets such as candy, cookies, soda, as well as pizza, hamburgers, and other fast foods. Having little or no nutritional value, junk foods may be high in trans fat and saturated fat, refined sugar, salt, white flour, and chemical additives to preserve flavor and color. The health risks associated with eating too much junk food include not only obesity, but dental cavities and diabetes as a result of an increased sugar intake and cardiovascular diseases caused by accumulated fat in the arteries.

Why do many children continue this unhealthy practice? Many youngsters are attracted to the sweet and salty tastes of junk food, and are often swayed by advertisements that feature memorable characters, free toys, and other goodies. The average American child may see as many as 20,000 ads a year, and studies in the United Kingdom have shown dramatic increases in junk food consumption in children after viewing commercials showing similar products. Also, with their busier lifestyles, less than one third of Americans are cooking their meals at home, opting for the convenience of fast foods and other ready-made foods.

What can be done about this epidemic? Parents need to serve as healthy role models for their children by reducing or eliminating their own junk food intake while offering only healthy snacks at home, and limiting television viewing while increasing opportunities for exercise and other healthy activities.