Group Seeks to Eliminate Sodas in Schools


CHICAGO (Jan. 5) AP- Soft drinks should be eliminated from schools to help tackle the nation's obesity epidemic and pediatricians should work with their local schools to ensure that children are offered healthful alternatives, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.

In a new policy statement, the academy says doctors should contact superintendents and school board members and "emphasize the notion that every school in every district shares a responsibility for the nutritional health of its students."

Some schools already limit contracts with vendors of soft drinks and fast foods, though the soft drink industry has fought efforts by some states to mandate such restrictions.

While some schools rely on funds from vending machines to pay for student activities, the new policy says elementary and high schools should avoid such contracts, and that those with existing contracts should impose restrictions to avoid promoting overconsumption by kids.

The policy appears in the January issue of Pediatrics, being published Monday.

"The purpose of the statement is to give parents and superintendents and school board members and teachers, too, an awareness of the fact that they're playing a role in the current obesity crisis, and that they have measures at their disposal" to address it, said Dr. Robert D. Murray, the policy's lead author.

About 15 percent of U.S. youngsters aged 6 to 19 are seriously overweight. That is nearly 9 million youths and triple the number in a similar assessment from 1980.

Soft drinks are a common source of excess calories that can contribute to weight gain, and soft drink consumers at all ages have a higher daily calorie intake than nonconsumers, the academy's policy said. It cites data showing that 56 percent to 85 percent of school-age children consume at least one soft drink daily, most often sugared rather than diet sodas.

The National Soft Drink Association, which represents most soft drink makers nationwide, said the new policy is misguided and goes too far.

"Soft drinks can be a part of a balanced lifestyle and are a nice treat," said Jim Finkelstein, the association's executive director.

what crap. its no different than buying soda from the store. and theyre not being forced to drink it so if they dont want to get fat, they dont have to. in fact im on lunch break at school right now with no money and i would die to have a soda.

They threatened to do that at my high school last year. It didn't take affect though, we still had pop machines in every corridor of the school.

Blah.. my school is ghetto. All we have are Veryfine juice machines and Gatorade machines.

I dont really blame them.. especially for elementary schools. Lil kids are hyper enough, they dont need the caffeine lol. But yeah, I doubt kids are buying like, 5 cans a day, and if they are its their fault. Im sure though we'll all be seeing a lawsuit coming soon announcing that parents blame school for selling soda causing their kids to become overweight. :rolleyes:

I think the prices in these vending machines are outragious. I've seen prices as high as $2 for a can of pop in some places. That's crazy when you can go to any variety store and buy a case for $7.00.

Hmmmm....Sounds good to me. I'm out of HS now and I'm definitely all for it. PUT MORE FRUIT JUICE MACHINES IN. Kids just aren't getting it with 4 fruit juice machines and 234623573457 soda machines. Besides, they're priced the same as soda bottles anyway.

FRUIT JUICE MACHINES ALL THE WAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If we didn't have coffee and soda at our school we'd all be sleeping through class even more.

At my school, you can only buy soda after school. The only thing you can buy at lunch is fruit juice.

um..yeah i know, cause its not like they can buy a can and bring it to school...

Originally posted by Georgia's on my Mind
um..yeah i know, cause its not like they can buy a can and bring it to school...

When I went to HS, soda cans were illegal. They weren't allowed, because the teachers didn't want you spilling soda all over (they had the carpeting in the hallways replaced every few years, but still...).

Originally posted by Kaffeine Kay
Blah.. my school is ghetto. All we have are Veryfine juice machines and Gatorade machines. Hooray for ghetto schools! We have Gatorade, Powerade, and Fruitworks. Yay.

Yeah....our school threatened us with the possibility of this about 2 and a half years ago, when I was a freshman. They said it would go into affect January 2004. They've limited the number of sodas in the machines, and if they run out, they rarely replace them. Now, all they sell is Snapple and Gatorade. It's complete bs. Those drinks have so much sugar, aren't they afraid we're going to become obese? And if obesity is such an issue, maybe they should start focusing on PE, rather than what foods or drinks we're intaking.

Originally posted by Nirvana
If we didn't have coffee and soda at our school we'd all be sleeping through class even more.

No kidding. And it's bad enough as it is. No caffeine might just kill me. I'd just bring pop and hide it. People act like it's hard. You put it under your shirt, in your purse, wear a hoodie, stick it in the front pocket...etc. It's not hard. :rolleyes:

But I bet that the legislation, or whatever they're trying to get, will be passed. The nation is on this health awareness kick. Not saying it's bad...but my grades will fail if I don't stay awake in class. Me being smart, or me being fat. Their choice, I guess.

Until someone shows me some scientific study that says for certain that a soda makes you fat, I don't buy that. My father drinks like 5 a day and he's skinnier than most men his age.

Maybe it's all that **** they can buy in the snack machines. Ho ho anyone?

At my school there are two soda machines but they are only turned on after school. I think that they should be turned on during lunch though because they sell so many different types of cookies, candy, ice cream, pizza, french fries and other things that are way more fattening and have way more sugar than soda.

Eh, let them rot their teeth...they'll learn :) Afterall, you learn better from experience.

Our soda machines are turned off during lunches. And our business club gets all its profit from them.

And whoever takes my Diet Mountain Dew away from me I'll chase after with a huge-a stick.

I know that here in Texas they're trying do the same thing,
I heard about it on the news last year,I agree with it,
I mean today alot of kids and teens are drinking more
soda than ever and spending their money more on junk food,
The kids are going to dig a lunch of hamburgers,pizza,fries,
chips,cookies,candies,etc.and soda,rather than the cafeteria
special of chicken on a bun with lettuce and tomato,veggies,
fruit and milk,now the young ladies that are weight conscious
may choose differently,I'm not insulting anyone here ok.but
kids,teens please eat healthier once in awhile,I'm now wishing
I would have chose that rpde earlier,you can do it,my last soda
was drunk seven days ago and my last junk food snack
was four days ago!,After all remember ''You are what you eat.''
My opinion don't affliate in away with Sitcomsonline ok.

Originally posted by dawsongirl
My father drinks like 5 a day and he's skinnier than most men his age.
Which brings up another good point... not everyone has the same damn metabolism. i always buy ice cream and candy for lunch and im not fat at all. my friends get healthy stuff and im skinnier than all of them.

Originally posted by Rockapella722
And whoever takes my Diet Mountain Dew away from me I'll chase after with a huge-a stick.
Ditto. I need my Diet Mountain Dews. :mad:

Rather than putting so much effort in getting sodas out of the schools, they need to focus on creating healthier school menus. (Healthy food isn't necessarily tasteless). And contrary to what was declared back in the eighties (I think it was) ketchup is NOT a vegetable! I really think it's all that fattening food offered in school lunches that is contributing the most to the obesity of kids - that, and the lack of exercise. Though I was not one that enjoyed PE, it should probably be required each semester. And while there are many kids involved in extracurricular sports, a lot of kids just watch TV after school or sit in front of the computer for hours (I was guilty of the former when I was a kid), and don't get the exercise they need to keep their bodies healthy.

Finally someone is doing something about this. Whenever I pick up my sister from school, I can't help but notice so many kids turning into lard asses. What I hate the most is when a bunch of overweight kids don't run laps during Phys Ed. because they have "asthma," while the real kids with it are actually running and not complaining.

Ew, it's disgusting even to think about it.

Originally posted by safety pin
Which brings up another good point... not everyone has the same damn metabolism. i always buy ice cream and candy for lunch and im not fat at all. my friends get healthy stuff and im skinnier than all of them.

Very true. There are people out there that could get fat drinking water. Are they gonna ban water?

Originally posted by Bugiddle
Rather than putting so much effort in getting sodas out of the schools, they need to focus on creating healthier school menus. (Healthy food isn't necessarily tasteless). And contrary to what was declared back in the eighties (I think it was) ketchup is NOT a vegetable! I really think it's all that fattening food offered in school lunches that is contributing the most to the obesity of kids - that, and the lack of exercise. Though I was not one that enjoyed PE, it should probably be required each semester. And while there are many kids involved in extracurricular sports, a lot of kids just watch TV after school or sit in front of the computer for hours (I was guilty of the former when I was a kid), and don't get the exercise they need to keep their bodies healthy.

My damn school system was obsessed with PE. We didn't take it every semester, every year, we didn't graduate. Yet they gave us no credit for it. :mad:

Oh, and we still had pop machines. And people brought their own.

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
lard asses

That was a sensitive statement. :rolleyes:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
That was a sensitive statement. :rolleyes:

I apologize, I shouldn't have used those words.

Originally posted by SBTB Geek
Finally someone is doing something about this. Whenever I pick up my sister from school, I can't help but notice so many kids turning into lard asses. What I hate the most is when a bunch of overweight kids don't run laps during Phys Ed. because they have "asthma," while the real kids with it are actually running and not complaining.

Ew, it's disgusting even to think about it.

Having a can of soda at school really isn't whats turning them fat. Blame it on themselves and their parents, not a damn soda machine.

I drink like 8 cans of soda a day and have no weight problems.

What's the big deal? I think students get enough soda pop when they're not in school, they shouldn't have more of it in school.
Besides, it's the caffeine in the soda which causes you to be so tired in school, in addition to boring teachers maybe. The caffeine gives a small burst of energy, but then you end up even more tired when that burst goes away.
It may sound cliche, but eating right is the best way to gain and maintain energy.

There, my health lesson for today is over.:p Your assignment for tomorrow is to write a million-word essay on the effects of chemicals on the lifespan and reproductive habits of the common Titmouse.
And it has to be double-spaced.
And if there are any cross-outs or corrections, you'll get an 'F'.:cool:

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
There, my health lesson for today is over.:p Your assignment for tomorrow is to write a million-word essay on the effects of chemicals on the lifespan and reproductive habits of the common Titmouse.
And it has to be double-spaced.
And if there are any cross-outs or corrections, you'll get an 'F'.:cool:

:rofl:

Originally posted by dawsongirl
My damn school system was obsessed with PE. We didn't take it every semester, every year, we didn't graduate. Yet they gave us no credit for it. :mad:

Oh, and we still had pop machines. And people brought their own.

Eek! :eek: My school was strict on which semesters you could take it- you HAD to take them the following:

1st semester freshman year, 1st semester junior year
OR
2nd semester freshman year, 2nd semester junior year
OR
1st semester sophomore year, 1st semester senior year
OR
2nd semester sophomore year, 2nd semester senior year

You could NOT take it once your freshman year and once your sophomore year. It just didn't work out that way when I was in HS. I took the 1st option - 1st sem. freshman year and 1st sem. junior year.

My PE teacher worked us like DOGS, until we were sweating, and that was the way he wanted it. That was at the deaf school -- at the high school, people did FUN things. They went bowling, they went ice skating, etc. and didn't run around the gym when they DID stay. :rolleyes:

I'm actually glad I took PE in HS that made me sweat. It was worth it.

Originally posted by Nirvana
Having a can of soda at school really isn't whats turning them fat. Blame it on themselves and their parents, not a damn soda machine.

I drink like 8 cans of soda a day and have no weight problems.

The soda at school isn't exactly turning them fat, but it isn't helping their overweight problems either.

But who knows?... I bet there are quite a few kids out there who are getting fatter because of Coke and Pepsi. Those drinks are addicting, and the kids without the greatest metabolism suffer for it.

Banning soda in schools is not the answer. Teaching kids a healthy diet and lifestyle is what is needed. If kids know what is healthy and are able to make informed choices then this issue never comes up.

The problem is not just soda machines. If schools want to get rid of things that are unhealthy, then the should start with school lunches! When I was in high school, we could eat whatever we wanted, and how ever much we wanted. I'm talking pizza, nachos, and burritos. I saw some kids going back for thirds even. So instead of blaming things on soda machines in school, they should take a look at their lunch program.

Originally posted by Princess2003
The problem is not just soda machines. If schools want to get rid of things that are unhealthy, then the should start with school lunches! When I was in high school, we could eat whatever we wanted, and how ever much we wanted. I'm talking pizza, nachos, and burritos. I saw some kids going back for thirds even. So instead of blaming things on soda machines in school, they should take a look at their lunch program.

Good idea...And make those foods higher in price would maybe help, too...

My senior year, we had budget problems at my school, so they jacked up the prices on everything. I usually only got a boat of fries and three chicken strips- all together, that ran me $3, but a regular lunch was $1.60. (I was allowed to go off campus for lunch, so I didn't eat there much...when I did, that was what I ordered) That sure prevented me from going back for seconds! :eek:

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
Eek! :eek: My school was strict on which semesters you could take it- you HAD to take them the following:

1st semester freshman year, 1st semester junior year
OR
2nd semester freshman year, 2nd semester junior year
OR
1st semester sophomore year, 1st semester senior year
OR
2nd semester sophomore year, 2nd semester senior year

You could NOT take it once your freshman year and once your sophomore year. It just didn't work out that way when I was in HS. I took the 1st option - 1st sem. freshman year and 1st sem. junior year.

My PE teacher worked us like DOGS, until we were sweating, and that was the way he wanted it. That was at the deaf school -- at the high school, people did FUN things. They went bowling, they went ice skating, etc. and didn't run around the gym when they DID stay. :rolleyes:

I'm actually glad I took PE in HS that made me sweat. It was worth it.

We have to to take it every other day every year...and freshman year we have to take swim for half the year...dammit :wallbang

Originally posted by *A TV People*
We have to to take it every other day every year...and freshman year we have to take swim for half the year...dammit :wallbang

Same here...but we had to swim for a month every year. Damn the YMCA having to build thier ****ing pool onto the HS. Without that, there wouldn't have been a pool.

Originally posted by Sterling Holobyte
I think students get enough soda pop when they're not in school
Cant speak for all of them.

Originally posted by safety pin
Cant speak for all of them.
No, you're right, I can't. But pop is just so readily available everywhere you go.

My high school was so cheap that we didn't even have vending machines for juice. Although, if you wanted soda you had to bring it yourself, which is what I did.

I don't see why people are complaining about obesity. Usually, by the time they get to high school they are already fat so taking out vending machines for soda is really stupid.

Originally posted by *A TV People*
We have to to take it every other day every year...and freshman year we have to take swim for half the year...dammit :wallbang

We had a swimming pool built into the deaf school too- for us, we had to take swimming every Wednesday. It was OK - but the chlorine in the pool was horrible. :(

Originally posted by Miss Vicki
We had a swimming pool built into the deaf school too- for us, we had to take swimming every Wednesday. It was OK - but the chlorine in the pool was horrible. :(

Yeah, and it's so hot in the pool room. Ugh, I'm gonna hate it...and next semesters only a few weeks away :o

Originally posted by dawsongirl
Same here...but we had to swim for a month every year. Damn the YMCA having to build thier ****ing pool onto the HS. Without that, there wouldn't have been a pool.

If I was like 2 years older I would've had to take it because the highschool's only 2 years old, and at the old one you didn't have to take swim, but now they want to use "the new beautiful pool" Screw the pool. :mad:

Originally posted by *A TV People*
Yeah, and it's so hot in the pool room. Ugh, I'm gonna hate it...and next semesters only a few weeks away :o

Ick...If I were still in HS, I would trade with ya. For some unknown reason when they built the pool building addition to my school (they built it in 1982/83), they decided they would built FOUR doors going outdoors that NOBODY is allowed to go through, which I will never understand. Whenever we had swim class or recreation swimming in the winter (the pool is open to the general public on Monday, Tuesday and Thursday nights), it was always freezing in the pool area and even going into the hot tub doesn't help...they have a hot tub too but like I mentioned, they built the pool addition to the school in 1982, so it's nothing special now...it doesn't even bubble anymore. :(

Bleh...I'm glad I left when I did. :barf:

You know what else I just remembered? They used to have a diving board (that was the best thing about swimming) that was just this regular one (not the kind you climb up), but after a few idiots had accidents on it, they took it out...that was in early 2000. Swimming stopped being fun for me when they took it out. :(