Junk Food: a Waste in your Schools Money

Have you ever been to a school event and been tempted by what seems like an endless supply of mouth-watering snacks at the concession stand? Every day junk food is creeping into students’ lives, whether they like it or not. According to the article, Obesity Facts, Figures, and Guidelines, “there are “300,000 deaths related to obesity per year.”(2002) An argument has been brewing over whether junk food should be sold in schools. Although junk food is often preferred by students, it should not be sold in schools because of its inadequate nutrition and its contribution to poor health and behavioral issues.

Junk food does not hold the nutrition that students need to consume every day to reach the expectations of being a student and a class peer and therefore should not be allowed in schools. Clearly, junk food is a cheaper and faster option, but it does not hold the nutrients that students would need to function. Studies show that “Junk food is usually devoid of fiber, unlike whole grains and vegetables.”(2019) Junk food holds unneeded fats and calories that are lacking in vitamins and minerals. It is proven that kids and people who consume fruits and vegetables each day have a lower chance of getting cancer, diabetes and heart disease. Junk food can affect the student's health and the nutrition your students are taking in negatively, unlike when you consume healthy foods.

Junk food can have a detrimental effect on students health as well. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Overall obesity rates in children have more than tripled over the years. The rate of 6-11-year-olds with obesity has gone from 6.5% to 18.4%,” (2018) Every day students are being tempted to buy junk food, because of this students are making the poor choice and choosing junk food to put in there diet. The government of Australia has stated, “ that eating processed or fast foods that are high in fat,” is a very unhealthy diet. An unhealthy diet can cause many consequences, for example, according to the European Journal, “Obesity is a major risk factor for high blood pressure. 3 out of 4 hypertension(high blood pressure) cases has been related to junk food and obesity.” Junk food is influencing students in many ways, that could be good or bad.

According to the evidence above junk food can also affect behavioral issues. A survey has been taken and it shows that “junk food can have an effect on one's tendency to be violent towards other people.” Junk food does not only affect the student's behavior it could as well affect their mood and their tone. According to the article Healthline, “ People who ate a poor- quality diet - one with high processed meat, chocolate, sweet desserts, fried food, refined food and high- fat dairy products- were more likely to report symptoms of depression.” Teachers and staff at your school can suffer from the effects of disobedient kids as well as other peers at your school.

All in all, although junk food is preferred by students and more efficient, it contributes to poor health, inadequate nutrition, and behavioral issues. Junk food can lead to heart disease, kidney failure, obese problems and violence in students all around your school. Obesity is a traumatic problem taking place all around the world and it is just going to keep getting bigger. The process of selling junk food in schools is only adding to this problem, where it is very difficult to make the right choices for your body and for yourself.

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