From the Desk of
Mid-Valley Healthy MOM Dr. Ilana Dickson
This is a very interesting yet
controversial article concerning ways to combat obesity. Some
Michigan schools are banning cupcakes in order to fight obesity
seems to me a first step in the right direction. Although this is
not the answer to our overgrowing obesity epidemic in the United
States, it is a first step to send a message that junk food is not
tolerated or promoted in the public school system. An overhaul of
the food we offer in our public school system also seems like
a good place to start however due to funding, politics, lobbying,
etc. this has proven to be a very difficult task. I remember my
daughter being in a class whose teacher would not allow any junk
food during any of their celebrations. As a result, my daughter as
well as many other children in the class felt very deprived of this
privilege as other classes were allowed unlimited amounts of junk
food associated with birthdays and holidays. At the time it seemed
reasonable to me yet unfair to the children that one classroom
would be singled out as such. If there was a school policy that did
not allow classes to bring unlimited amounts of junk food
during the special occasions no one would feel left out. What
parents do at home is certainly at their discretion and only we
can, as the medical community, try and educate folks on how to
limit foods that are contributing to this ever growing
problem. However, we can certainly try and take
responsibility in our community, i.e. the public sector, to
advocate healthy food choices and exercise.
http://detnews.com/article/20101115/SCHOOLS/11150353/Some-Michigan-schools-even-ban-cupcakes-to-fight-obesity