According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children who are overweight has more than doubled in the last 20 years. Among teenagers it is even worse with the number increasing more than three times in the same period. This had led to over 10 million children falling into the overweight or obese category. Being obese or overweight at such a young age can lead to serious health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and even cancer.
With a prediction of one in three …

Tara Parker-Pope, January 25, 2010, The New York Times
Can something as simple as the timing of recess make a difference in a child’s health and behavior?
Some experts think it can, and now some schools are rescheduling recess — sending students out to play before they sit down for lunch. The switch appears to have led to some surprising changes in both cafeteria and classroom.
Schools that have tried it report that when children play before lunch, there is less food waste and higher consumption of milk, fruit and vegetables. And some …

New vending machine contracts expected to be approved on Wednesday could mean less junk food — and less money for schools — as the Education Department tries to promote healthier choices for students.
One contract would give exclusive drink machine rights to CC Vending, a Bronx company that plans to sell Pepsi products. It would require drinks sold in elementary and middle schools to have fewer than 10 calories per eight ounces. In high schools, the limit would be fewer than 25 calories per eight ounces. No artificially sweetened drinks or …