Mary Help of Christians School

Mabiga, Mabalacat City

Junk Food Availability in School

Canteen Raises Obesity

Submitted by:

Ortiz, Keithryn Lee A.

Tabotabo, Michelle L.

Date submitted:

January 16, 2017

I. Introduction

Background of the Study

Children and young adults spend most of their time in school and consequently, spend
more time eating in school than at home. The kind of food and drinks the canteen offers in the
school may contribute to childhood obesity. Many kids today are eating junk foods. According to
the book of John F. Mariani, Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink, defines junk food as
food that has low nutritional value, typically produced in the form of packaged snacks needing
little or no preparation. Students eat diets high in fat, calories and sugar and low in nutritious,
low calorie fruits and vegetables. In addition to this, one to two meals are eaten at school plus a
snack, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for students to make healthy food choices. With
schools providing many foods that are processed and with the marketing materials that
bombard kids, it is much easier to choose a high calorie, high fat option than something that is
full of nutrition and low in calories. The researchers believe that the unhealthy foods and drinks
students eat from school canteens are indicative of the rising trend of obesity in the Philippines
and the global obesity pandemic.

Over the years, the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related diseases among children in
the country has risen sharply. In fact, the numbers have doubled over the past couple of
decades and tripled over the last 30 years. A report by the World Health Organization (WHO)
reveals that over 3 million children in the Philippines are overweight or obese. More so,
according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Philippines is
among the developing countries with high levels of obesity. The rise in overweight and obese
children is due to the fact on the increased consumption of processed food that is high in sugar
and fat, as well as physical inactivity and an idle lifestyle (CNN Philippines, 2016). Overweight
and obesity in children are considered problems because of their potential devastating health
consequences. For instance, overweight and obesity cause cardiovascular diseases and
impaired fasting glucose (Wilborn et al., 2005). These causes are as well complex and
multidimensional encompassing physical, social and environmental factors. Amidst the
complexities is the fact that overweight and obesity are phenomena in which the schools have
roles to play. Being at the helm of educating children, schools should see to it that children are
cared for. More so, schools serve as second parents to their pupils and students and may
contribute on how children may become overweight and obesity through the school canteens.
Review of Literature

Healthy and unhealthy foods and drinks

According to the 2010 Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents,
Healthy foods and drinks comprise of the following: breads and cereals, rice, pasta, noodles,
vegetables, fruits, dairy foods-- reduced or low fat milk, yoghurt and cheese; lean meat, poultry,
fish, eggs, nuts, legumes and water. On the other side, unhealthy foods and drinks include the
following: sugar-sweetened drinks including sports drinks, cordial fruit flavored drinks; deep fried
foods, pastry-based or crumbled hot foods, savory snack foods such as crisps, chips, biscuits;
ice creams and ice confections such as chocolate-coated and premium ice creams, icy poles,
and ice crushes; cakes, muffins, sweet pastries, slices, biscuits and bars. The 2012 Nutritional
Guidelines for Filipinos have similarly advised the consumption of more fruits and vegetables in
the Filipino diet and limit the intake of foods that are high in fats, sugar and salt.

The link between consuming unhealthy foods and obesity

The researchers believe that excessive intake on the quantity and quality of food could
result to an increase in weight and obesity. Research shows that poor diet in children
contributes to overweight by increased reliance on fast food restaurants and fatty snacks which
led to an increase in calorie intake (Hofferth & Curtin, 2003). In addition to this, a study revealed
that eating large portions of food in pre-school aged children leads to obesity by producing
excessive intake at meals (Fisher, Rolls & Birch, 2003). Moreover, the 2002 World Health
Organization (WHO) reports on diet, nutrition and prevention of chronic diseases pointed out
that consumption of energy-dense foods which are foods that have high fat or sugar content
could highly influence weight gain and overweight.

Health effects of overweight and obesity

The ill effects of overweight and obesity in the health and the future of children are
widespread. Obesity in childhood has serious medical consequences, which include increases
in the rate of cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and diabetes (Bray, 2004).

Statement of the Problem

This study aims to assess the nutritional value of foods and drinks sold and offered by
canteens found inside the school campus of Mary Help of Christians School. Furthermore, this
study also seeks to describe what kind of foods and drinks the highschool students of the school
canteen are buying and eating. Specifically, this study seeks to answer the following questions:

1. What are the kinds of food and drinks sold at MHCS Canteen?

2. In what category of healthy foods and drinks and unhealthy foods and drinks do these foods
and drinks from the canteen belong to?

3. What foods that most students eat which contribute to obesity?

Significance of the Study

This study will impact on students studying in this school. The result of the assessment
would give insight if unhealthy foods are offered in the canteens. This assessment will be a
prelude to suggesting the formulation of healthy food guidelines to be implemented in the
canteen in the desire to help reduce the double burden of obesity in the country.

II. Body
School Canteen and unhealthy foods and drinks
Some studies support the idea that children might not be eating the right kind of foods at
school. A study conducted in the USA showed that children at school may be exposed to large
variety of unhealthy foods and drinks such as snack foods and soft-drinks which can be found
on food stores inside the school (Anderson et al., 2003). Also, results of a study in the
Philippines on childhood obesity showed that children in private schools are prone to obesity
because they are exposed to calorie-rich foods and sedentary behavior at home and in school
(Tanchoco et al., 2006).

The nutritional quality of school food affects students health

Schools are facing continuous cuts in their budgets, and many have looked at outside
marketing as sources of revenue for programs that they would otherwise have to cut. Many of
these schools do not have restrictions on the type of marketing that can take place. According to
'Reading, Writing and Raisinets: Are School Finances Contributing to Children's Obesity',
financially strapped schools are allowing food and beverage advertising to students and are
allowing "pouring" rights contracts with beverage vendors. This allows a vendor to have
exclusivity for distribution and advertising rights on campus and at sporting events.

Many schools could significantly improve the amount and variety of healthy food choices
for their students, and in turn make their students feel healthier and more motivated to learn.
However, even schools who have already added a number of healthy, fresh options to their
menu sometimes still have trouble getting kids to eat that way. According to researcher Ron
Haskins from the Food Museum, more than 80% of elementary schools and 90% of high
schools offered food choices that would meet guidelines for fat and saturated fat intake if
students selected the right foods to eat. But while you can lead students to good food, you cant
make them eat it.

The reality in most schools is that pre-made, processed food is the cheapest way to go.
Furthermore, where there is a lack of creativity and motivation to cultivate a healthy and
sustainable menu, fast-food chains, junk-food vendors, and soda companies rush in to fill the
void, offering partnerships with schools that allow them to market their products in schools. This
resulted as to why kids are motivated to make unhealthy food choices.

To assist a student's learning process, the foods eaten should fuel the body, not cause it
to be sluggish or foggy minded. These foods affect the student's cognitive, attention and
memory skills. It is important that the foods they eat help them learn and not deter from it.
Serving fresh food is more expensive and does take more time to prepare. However, if schools
do not change what they are doing, it is going to cost society much more in medical costs to
treat the diseases that are occurring because of obesity.

Unhealthy School Lunches

It is believed by the researchers that a junk meal or two wont have a permanent impact
on a child, but eating unhealthy lunches for years can take a seriously negative toll on both
mental and physical health.

Childhood obesity is a major problem in Philippines and it keeps getting worse. Some
students purchase food at school everyday and do not exercise. There are many factors
contributing to fattening and unhealthy school lunches. One major factor is budget. It can be
challenging to come up with school lunches that are both inviting and healthy, while keeping
prices low. The unfortunate result is that many schools rely on high energy, yet low nutrient
value foods to fill up their students. Other factors are the special school programs some schools
offer to get more revenue.

While many school districts are working to revamp their lunchroom meals, the fact is that
most school lunches are not prepared from scratch and dont use fresh fruits and vegetables;
rather they are prepared with a heat and serve mentality.

School Cafeteria Foods to Avoid

Meals in the school cafeteria are convenient because children do not have to worry
about forgetting to bring their food to school. In addition to this, eating in the school cafeteria
can also be cost-effective if the children qualify for free or reduced breakfasts or lunches from
the USDA National School Lunch Program or School Breakfast Program. The researchers
believe that nutritious meals help the children focus and maintain a healthy weight, but children
should avoid some cafeteria foods.

Fried and Fatty Foods

Fried foods are usually high in calories and low in nutrients. Common fried foods in
school cafeterias include fried potatoes, such as French fries, hash browns and tater tots,
chicken nuggets and cheese sticks. More so, fried foods are high in fat and they may contain
trans fats, which raise childrens bad cholesterol levels and lower levels of good cholesterol in
their blood. Pizza, hamburgers and beef burritos are high in fat and calories. Grilled chicken,
bean burritos and veggie burgers are healthier options.

Sweets

Children are suggested to avoid sugary baked goods from school cafeterias. Breakfast
pastries, such as doughnuts, danishes and coffee cakes, are high in calories, fat and sugars.
Cookies, cake and pies for dessert at lunch are also unhealthy. KidsHealth suggests choosing
fresh fruit or canned fruit in its own juice instead of canned fruit in sweet syrup. Fat-free milk and
water are better choices than sugar-sweetened fruit drinks, soft drinks and sports drinks.

Unhealthy Additions

Regular salad dressings and dips, such as ranch, are high in fat and calories. Fat-free
dressings are low-calorie choices. Mustard is a fat-free alternative to mayonnaise, which is high
in fat and calories, for spreading on sandwiches. Additions such as full-fat sliced cheese on
sandwiches, cream cheese on bagels and bacon or sausage on breakfast sandwiches are high
in saturated fat and cholesterol. Marinara sauce is lower in fat and calories than Alfredo sauce
for pasta.

Considerations

As occasional treats, most foods can fit into balanced diets. When children get to choose
a limited amount of cafeteria junk food, such as one unhealthy entre and one sugary dessert
per week, children may feel a sense of control over their own eating. This system helps them
develop the skills to make healthy choices in the future. KidsHealth suggests looking at the
cafeteria menu each day or week and deciding together what children will choose for lunch.

Although there are many unhealthy junk foods in the school canteen, the researchers
found out that there are junk foods that have healthy ingredients. For instance, Nova Multigrain
snack by Jack N Jill is a healthy mix of four wholesome grains which includes corn, rice, wheat
and oats. This combination gives the chips a sweet nutty taste. However, Nova is still quite
unhealthy because one large bag contains three servings and each serving has 13% RDA of
saturated fat. Carbohydrates are at 7% RDA and fiber is at 8% RDA. Nova has 0% for
Vitamins A, C, Calcium and Iron. Another example is popcorn. It is low in calories, and low in
nutrition, as well. However, popcorn is full of fiber and has high levels of polyphenols,
antioxidants that can protect against heart disease and certain cancers. In fact, research shows
that popcorn has the highest polyphenol level of all snack foods. Also, some junk foods like ding
dong chips contain nuts. Nuts nutrition is complete in the sense that in addition to calories, and
vitamins, nuts are rich source of minerals, omega-3 fatty acids, and anti-oxidants. Peanuts are
excellent source of anti-oxidant compound, resveratrol.

The researchers have seen that even though the snacks that were stated have healthy
ingredients, these snacks are still unhealthy to childrens health due to that fact that the snacks
contain more unhealthy ingredients like MSG or Monosodium Glutamate, artificial sweeteners,
sodium, cholesterol, calories, and saturated fats.

Data Gathering

To further discussed about the healthy and unhealthy foods in school, the researchers
conducted an observation to the foods sold in the school canteen of Mary Help of Christians
School (Pampanga) Inc.
 On January 12, 2016, at 9:45 in the morning, the researchers went to MHCS canteen to
do ocular observation. Using a pen and a small notebook, all kinds of foods were recorded.
Examples of the foods that were recorded were candies, ice cream, burgers, siomai, baked-
macaroni, quail eggs, chips, biscuits and sandwiches.

Recording of the foods went until 10:10 a.m. The researchers went back at 12:15 p.m to record
foods offered during lunch time and again at 4:00 p.m to record foods offered in the afternoon.
The recorded foods and drinks were then categorized into healthy foods and unhealthy foods,
healthy drinks and unhealthy drinks. The researchers conducted an interview to 50 highschool
students with 10 students per grade level.

Results and Discussions

The amount of foods and drinks consumed by the pupils and students at school
canteens could be very well high owing to the availability of foods and drinks from morning to
afternoon.

Table 1.1 The Healthy and Unhealthy food categories of MHCS Canteen.

Mary Help of Christians School (Pampanga) Inc.

Healthy Unhealthy
Rice meals, Burger,
flakes, siopao,
quail eggs, siomai,
biscuit snacks, hotdogs,
bottled water, candies,
baked-macaroni with cheese instant noodles,
salty snacks,
ice cream,
flavoured juices,
fries

Table 3.1 showed that there is a considerable amount of unhealthy foods and drinks sold
at MHCS canteen. It was observed that the school canteen offers more unhealthy food and
drinks than healthy ones.
 In addition to this, the researchers also conducted a survey among high school students
to show the number of students who eat school lunch in the school and who bring lunch
prepared at home.

Table 1.2 Number of students who eat school lunch in the school and who bring lunch prepared
at home.

4 Lunch from home

School Lunch
3

0
Grade 7 Grade 8 Grade 9 Grade 10 Grade 11

Figures in Table 1.2 clearly depict a bigger consumption of school lunch and a lesser
consumption of lunch from home in 10 students per grade levels. Interestingly, the grade 11
students have the lowest percentage of consuming school lunch and the highest percentage of
consuming lunch from home. This is probably due to the fact that most senior highschool
students are more informed about the health effects of foods sold in the canteen and thats why
they want to bring healthy lunch from home which includes meat, fruits, and vegetables.

The survey shows that many highschool students eat school lunch. Although there are
rice meals provided by the school canteen, the researchers found out that most students
substitute their lunch with junk foods like snacks and processed foods like hotdog and pork
siomai.

Furthermore, the researchers conducted an interview among highschool students to

know the reasons why most of students buy unhealthy foods in the canteen. One student from
grade 9 said that she prefers to buy junk food because it is cheaper and tastier. She further
stated that junk food satisfies her and removes the stress she gets from school works. On the
other hand, one student from grade 11 said that she prefers to bring her own healthy snacks
which include fresh fruits, wafer, own bottled water and healthy lunch. In addition to this, she
exclaimed that the kind of foods sold in the canteen are just the same everyday and most are
unhealthy. More so, 3 out of 5 highschool students who were observed by the researchers are
obese and eat junk foods as their recess and lunch. In addition to this, students often substitute
lunch with snacks and sodas from vending machines in their schools. A recent study found that
students who regularly ate school lunches were 29% more likely to be obese compared to those
kids who brought their lunches from home.

High Salt Intake May Directly Increase Risk of Obesity

Many school canteens sell salty snacks and these snacks are what most students want
to eat because of the tasty flavour. Researchers suggest there may be a direct link between salt
intake and obesity, independent of total energy intake or sugar sweetened beverage
consumption (SSB). This has been highlighted in a nationally representative sample of the
Philippine population, with a 1g/day increase in salt intake being associated with an increased
risk of being overweight or obese by 28% in children and 26% in adults. Additonaly, results
showed a consistent significant association between salt intake and BMI, waist circumference
and body fat mass independent of total energy intake and sugar-sweetened beverage
consumption.

It is well established that a high salt diet is the major cause of raised blood pressure and,
if left untreated, can lead to cardiovascular diseases and subsequent death. In addition to his,
recent studies have also associated a high salt diet to increased risk of obesity, primarily
through its effect on thirst, leading to increased sugar sweetened beverage consumption (SSB),
but also potentially as a result of excessive consumption of processed foods that are high in
calories and salt. This new study highlights even further, the link between salt and obesity.

According to the Senior Dietitian at the Philippine Heart Association, its well established
that we should be reducing the amount of salt we eat to help avoid high blood pressure, a risk
factor for cardiovascular disease and the link between salt intake and obesity.

DepEd Policies on Food Safety in Schools

According to the Education Program Supervisor, Delia Kiamco, those who are
managing canteens should always bear in mind that service and not profit is the main
 consideration in operating a school canteen (Philippine Daily Inquirer Sec. 2 Vol. XIV, pg. 4,
July 18, 2013) As stated on the provisions of Subpar. 4.4 4.6 of DepED Order No. 8, s. 2007,
only nutrient-rich and fortified food shall be made available in school canteens. Also, processed
fortified food should bear the Sangkap Pinoy seal. Among beverages, only milk, vegetable and
fruit shakes and juices are allowed. In addition to this, selling of soft drinks and other carbonated
drinks, sugar-based synthetic or artificially flavored juices and junk food are prohibited since
these are detrimental to childrens health. More so, DepEd also prohibits the use of mono
sodium glutamate or vetsin in food. Instead, iodized salt should be used to help eliminate the
iodine deficiency disorder among school children.

Regulation on Junk foods in schools in the Philippines

According to a 2008 survey conducted by the Food and Nutrition Research Institute
under the Department of Science and Technology, soft drinks are the third top beverage choice
for children aged 6 to 12 years old, with 15 percent of those surveyed drinking soda.

Junk foods seem to the 12th preferred food choice for kids, according to the survey, with
17.5 percent of those surveyed munching on the junk.

The researchers believed that obesity among children is on the rise, supposedly on the
consumption of junk food and soft drinks. According to the same institute in 2011, at least 8 in
100 (or 7.5%) of school children 6-10 years old, and around 4 in 100 (or 4.3 percent) of pre-
schoolers 0-5 years old are overweight.

Despite the obesity problems that are prevalent in the country, there was no ban on soft
drinks and junk foods since these foods, despite their lack of nutritious content, are not explicitly
banned by government, according to the DepEd's health director. Apparently, soft drinks and
junk food are not banned by the FDA, since these supposedly have no chemical content that
are potentially detrimental to children, according to DepEd's Health and Nutrition Center director
Ella Napunguluit.

III. Conclusion

The school canteen is one of the places where children and adolescents usually eat and
dine, thus, it showed in this study that it may be one of the contributors to childhood and
adolescent overnutrition and obesity. Furthermore, the findings support the increasing trend of
overnutrition and obesity in the Philippines and the obesity pandemic many countries are
experiencing all over the world.

Obesity is a global problem defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) as an

abnormal or excessive fat accumulation that can have a negative impact on health. WHO states
the most fundamental cause of obesity is when there is an energy imbalance between calories
consumed and the amount expended.

Junk food is high in calories but low in nutritional value. It often contains high amounts of
sugar and fat without providing many minerals, vitamins or nutrients that are essential to good
health. However, more people are opting to eat junk food as it appeals to their base needs. In
addition, junk food is able to stimulate the reward system in peoples brain, which means they
are primed to consume more of it.

The researchers suggest that in order to reduce your risk of obesity, it is essential to
reduce your intake of these unhealthy processed foods and replace them with fruit, vegetables,
whole grains and nuts. In addition to this, it is important to exercise if people want to reach or
maintain a healthy body mass index (BMI). More so, children must work off the energy they
have eaten in order to maintain a steady and healthy weight. BMI is the measurement generally
used to calculate obesity and it calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres
squared. A BMI between 18.5 to 24.9 is healthy.

The researchers believed that the school food environment has the potential to have a
large impact on children's and adolescents' diets because they consume a substantial
proportion (between 19 and 50 percent) of their total daily calories at school (Gleason and
Suitor 2001).

Children spend at least a third of the day in school and during this time, they eat at least
one meal in the school canteen. This is especially so in most urban areas, where both parents
work and are unable to find the time to pack lunches for their children.

Food is a vital growth and health factor in human life. Researchers believed that food
must not only be nutritious, but also healthy. This means school must ensure that meals served
in the canteen are nutritious and healthy.

More so, the eating habits of students are greatly influenced by the food available in the
school environment. The food they eat contributes substantially to their nutrient intake and will
to a large extent influence the development of their eating habits, growth patterns and energy
levels. Additionaly, consuming nutritious food and adopting a healthy lifestyle will enable
students to grow and develop to their optimum potential, leading to improved educational
performance as well. In addition to this, a healthy diet also plays a preventative role in relation to
nutrition-related conditions and diseases such as overweight, obesity and dental disease, and,
in later life, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus and a range of cancers.

When it comes to childhood obesity, researchers have seen amazing progress on the
issue of nutrition in schools. In the past few years, communities across the country have taken
action to ensure that their schools phase out junk food and soda and replace them with fruits,
vegetables and other nutritionally rich offerings. In addition to this, a recent comprehensive
assessment of the successful programs in preventing obesity in schools across the United
States revealed that modifying the foods and drinks offered at school canteens such as offering
and encouraging students to use water only as their beverage has been effective in preventing
obesity among students (Nihiser et al., 2013). More so, another study at a primary school in
Australia showed that children would buy more healthy foods and less unhealthy foods if healthy
foods are advertised and displayed well (Rexha et al., 2005).

The obesity epidemic is one of the greatest public health, social, and economic
challenges of the 21st century. Without a strong contribution from schools, people are not likely
to reverse the epidemic. Improving and intensifying efforts to promote physical activity and
healthy eating is entirely consistent with the fundamental mission of schools: educating young
people to become healthy, productive citizens who can make meaningful contributions to
society. Fortunately, people have learned a great deal in recent years about what schools can
do to effectively promote physical activity and healthy eating. The researchers believe that
schools can play a strong role in improving the lives of young people through physical activity
and healthy eating. In addition to this, schools are a natural place to identify health problems
and offer solutions. Both inside and outside of the classroom, schools present opportunities for
students to learn about healthful eating habits and regular physical activity; engage in physical
education; and make food and physical activity choices during school meal times and through
school-related activities. Several large-scale school-based intervention studies demonstrate that
changes in the school food environment can impact students' dietary choices and improve the
quality of their diets while at school.
 Schools offer access to children, the facilities required for classroom and physical
education interventions, and the personnel capable of being involved in such efforts. (Budd, et
al., Journal of School Health 2006). The researchers suggest that it is very important that
parents, teachers and students work together to support a wholesome approach to developing a
culture where both primary school pupils and secondary school students actively choose
nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle.

Recommendations

In view of the findings of the study, the researcher proposes the following:

1. Conduct assessment studies on the nutritional value of foods on all food outlets outside the
school campus, but within the vicinity of the school.
2. Conduct more assessment studies on the nutritional value of foods on the canteens of other
public and private schools in Pampanga and other provinces.
3. Conduct a comprehensive assessment in preventing obesity in schools.
4. Encourage the school personnel such as the teachers and professors to teach the students
and pupils to buy and eat only healthy foods and drinks at the school canteens.
5. Regulate the display and selling of all unhealthy foods in the canteens of MHCS.
6. Recommend to the school principal to conduct a meeting for all the parents regarding health
effects of junk foods to children.
7. Conduct annual assessments of students' weight, height, and body mass index and make
that information available to parents.
8. Assess school policies and practices related to nutrition, physical activity, and obesity
prevention.

References

http://www.ceeonline.org/greenguide/food/upload/studenthealth.aspx

https://www.teacherph.com/compliance-deped-policies-food-safety-schools/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3667628/

http://www.nber.org/digest/sep05/w11177.html

http://akultour.net/essay-example-on-banning-junk-food-and-sodas-in-schools/
http://www.naturalnews.com/033817_childhood_obesity_schools.html

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/oz-garcia/childhood-obesity-schools_b_1257318.html

http://www.rd.com/health/healthy-eating/can-school-lunches-cause-obesity/

http://caffoodmsueats.weebly.com/issues--problems.html

https://draxe.com/childhood-obesity-and-school-lunches/

https://philippinesnacks.wordpress.com/2008/05/26/nova-multigrain-snack/

http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/323764/lifestyle/healthandwellness/not-ban-only-
regulation-on-soft-drinks-and-junk-food-in-phl-schools

Book of John F. Mariani, Encyclopedia of American Food and Drink

Philippine Daily Inquirer (Sec. 2 Vol. XIV, pg. 4, July 18, 2013)