It's not a disease, but it is an epidemic. New reports show more overweight kids than ever before. 7Healthcast reporter Janet Wu joins us with more.
The Kaiser Foundation report shows a strong link between the time kids spend on media, like TV, movies and video games to their risk for being overweight.
But there's a stronger factor than that -- their food. One local school system is taking heed and taking steps.
Vending machines don't look the same at Danvers Middle School. The so called "bad stuff" is gone.
Thomas Powers, Foodservice Director
"There's some resistance at this point, but I'm sure that will improve with time."
Danver's School Committee decided to phase out snacks with ten or more grams of fat. The reason is clear, the growing epidemic of obesity in our nation's young.
A quarter of all American kids are now overweight with 15 percent of them clinically obese. So out go the candy bars, hostess pies and potato chips.
Kids were invited to taste test and choose new healthier options like yogurt and pita chips.
Jenna Larson, 8th Grade Student
"Kids would rather have junk food, but parents, when they give their kids money they really don't know what they're buying."
Janet Wu
"Do you think kids will go for this?
"No."
Kids may be losing the extra calories and fat, but the school risks losing some extra revenue. Last year, the vending machines with their junk food brought in about $5,000."
The healthier snacks are not as popular and they're more expensive.
Megan Hennessey, 8th Grade Student
"They will miss the stuff we had but they'll get over it."
School officials say the cost is worth it with the number of overweight kids doubling in the past two decades.
Schools aren't the only diet danger zones. The new report confirms that restaurant kids meals tend to be high in fat and calories.
