Will Israeli schools hop on the anti-obesity bandwagon?
Likud MK Danon: Israel would rank third for child obesity if it were ranked among European states.
By Jonathan Lis Tags: Israel newsThe state should combat obesity among the young by better monitoring of the food served in schools, community centers and youth clubs and banning vending machines in schools that offer sweets and carbonated drinks, according to a bill proposed by Likud MK Danny Danon.
The Knesset Research Center says that more than 30 percent of all adults in Israel struggle with obesity, and the figure keeps growing. More than 10 percent of Israel's young people are obese, the center says, and eight out of 10 obese teenagers will become obese adults.
"The purpose of the bill is to combat obesity among young people," MK Danon said. "Obesity has been declared an epidemic by the World Health Organization, and it exists in Israel as well. Indeed, Israel is ranked third in Europe for obesity among children."
Danon said Israel would rank third for child obesity if it were ranked among European states.
"Child obesity leads to severe chronic diseases, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, cardiac problems, orthopedic disabilities and more," the introduction to the bill explains. "Beyond the physiological damage, obesity also causes mental anguish," it adds, noting that fat children suffer from poor self-image."
The bill adds: "Health Ministry estimates suggest that the direct and secondary costs of obesity to the state budget run up to NIS 10 billion a year."
The bill envisions monitoring food sold in schools, as it is completely unsupervised for quality and nutritional value and says this would not require significant new investment by the state, since it stresses obliging food vendors to obtain approval from the proposed monitoring authority.
Danon believes that in the long run, the bill would save considerable sums that go for treating obese minors who turn into fat, sick adults. "School kiosks exploit the children being penned in on school grounds and sell them fattening food without any real alternative. Although the director-general of the Education Ministry had issued specific guidelines on the matter, the shop owners couldn't care less about regulations or for the kids' health," said Danon. "They only care about [lining] their pockets."
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I didn't see it that I was aware of. When I was in junior high I knew a girl who later died of it. That was a long time ago. I don't think there was awareness of anorexia back then.
As people get poorer they eat more expensive junk food. On the other hand there is an attempt to educate for better diets. I see fewer chocolate sandwiches in the classroom at 10:00 then I saw in the past.
From your experience of working in schools have you not also noticed the growing trend of anorexia amongst teenage girls, or is everyone obesse as you seem to suggest, a tour of the anorexia clinc in anyone of our major hospitals will confirm that this is a deadly trend amongst young teenage girls.
way to go! that would a good first step in the prevention of this horrific epidemic! but if I may add - it should come along with lessons both in school and at home about a fully healthy lifestyle and choices - including exercse
I've worked in schools where I have seen some kids drinking sodas all day long. However, parents are also to blame. I have seen people in the park giving their kids Bamba and other fattening snacks. If they eat a meal at home first, why do they need to bring fattening snacks to the park? And why do the kids have gym just once or twice a week? It's because the Ministry of Ed doesn't give the schools enough hours. In any case, the levels of obesity here don't come anywhere near the US. I was there recently and I think most of the people are overweight.
obese teens become obese adults, given that obese adults are pushing 1/3 of the population.
Israel needs to tone down the drama and deal with dull but real problems that affect people on a daily basis, like obesity. It's ironic and telling that bullets didn't fell the mighty Sharon but jellydonuts did.
I am appalled by the amount of junk food sold at kiosks on school campuses. I am no less shocked at the money kids bring from home to purchase their soft drinks, sweets and "other" empty-calorie snacks during the break. A simple homemade sandwich would be much healthier.I hope the law becomes a fact and is also implemented!