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School Lunches Make Kids Fat, But Adding a School Breakfast Counters Effect
Filed under: Nutrition: Health, In The News, Nutrition: Big Kids, Education: Big Kids, Nutrition: Tweens, Education: Tweens
Is mystery meat beefing up your kid? Credit: Getty Images
Children who received federal lunches in first grade were more likely to be obese by the time they were in third grade than their classmates who brought lunch from home, Georgia State University researchers found. That trend was reversed, though, for children who also were provided with a school breakfast.
"If they participate in both, they're lighter; if lunch only, they're heavier," Rusty Tchernis, associate professor with Georgia State University's Andrew Young School of Policy Studies and the study's co-author, tells ParentDish.
Tchernis and his colleagues studied data from more than 13,500 children who are part of the National School Lunch Program.
"Overweight children are more likely to become obese adults," Tchernis says in a statement. "So the only way to reduce obesity is to prevent it from happening in children."
Tchernis says providing a free breakfast to everyone would remove its stigma and be an effective way to help prevent children from becoming overweight in the first place. And parents should be sure kids are eating a morning meal every day.
"Don't let them skip breakfast and if there is a school breakfast program in your school, enroll your kids in it," Tchernis tells ParentDish.
The study "School Nutrition Programs and the Incidence of Childhood Obesity," will be published in the summer edition of The Journal of Human Resources.
More than 30 million children receive low-cost or free lunches through the NSLP, according to the program's website.
Related: Minority Kids at Risk for Obesity Even Before Birth, Study Says
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
5-14-2010 @ 8:36PM
Sara said...They must not see our school breakfasts. Our kids are served chocolate pop-tarts or chocolate chip muffins.
Reply
5-15-2010 @ 7:10AM
BabyLurve said...It is true that most people in the U.S. are eating a very unhealthy diet,laden with unnessessary fats,sugars,etc. BUT,this will not make you obese on it's own. (not unless it's a very high amount) If anyone becomes obese,and they are only eating a few fattening foods per day,they will not be fat unless they have a metabolism problem. These smarty pants scientists just can't seem to figure out the reason that people's metabolisms are so sluggish,so what do they go and do? Yes! they blame it on the overweight people! My mother is obese,and she eats only a third what I eat or less. I am around 135 pound 25 year old female,and I have a metabolism problem. What is it you may ask? I sometimes eat 3,000-5,000 calories some days. I have to. Why am I burning off this fat,oil,and sugar without even any exercise? The mysterious metabolism. The point is,humans do not know everything,even the genius among us,so they say something very stupid like "People are getting fat because they eat too much!" Gee,not thinking on a complex level will get you with a simple answer,won't it,but it sure a'int right! Only because they are too stupid to know the answer. Haha! But seriously,eating healthy is important,no matter what else. But if I want to eat a box of doughnuts,at least that is my choice,even if it kills me. We don't want laws telling us what to eat. But the children at school,they should serve some more healthy food options for sure.
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6-07-2010 @ 2:02PM
phyweb said...I am a school lunch lady and our school district is trying to make lunches healthier. We also serve breakfast and we serve eggs, waffles, pancakes, breakfast sandwiches ( a different choice each day)
We have Salad Bar once a month where kids make their own salads and we have hoagie bar once a month where kids make their own hoagies. We also do Pizza on friday and Chicken nuggets on Monday but our chicken nuggets are very meaty and actually really good. We are trying to make our children eat healthier by offering healthy food but we also have a snack bar where they can buy tasty-cakes and ice cream. Some kids buy nothing but a muffin and a drink or a muffin and a pretzel for lunch. We also got rid of our french frier and no longer serve any fried food. Everything we serve is baked. I work at the middle school.
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10-13-2010 @ 1:23PM
lin said...Seriously? the study says obese kids tend to be obese adults. Why is that? Because they dont eat properly. Today's lunch is french toast sticks, yogurt, fruit, and juice? ARE YA KIDDING ME! Take a look at this season's biggest loser. Those people are not eating proper portions or foods. You're in denial.People who eat too little actually gain weight. Pick up some nutrition tips for free ...every Tues. on NBC.
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