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══════════════════【立報】═══════════════════ |
| 教 育 專 題 深 入 報 導《2005-09-16》 |
| 本期內容 | |
| ◎肥肚子別來 加州學校向垃圾食物說不 | |
| ◎中學校園垃圾食物愈來愈多 | |
| ◎3成學童過重 肥胖成為流行病 | |
| ◎台灣立報徵文啟事 | |
| 肥肚子別來 加州學校向垃圾食物說不 | |
| 策劃、編譯■成怡夏 | |
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California says 'no' to junk-food sales in schools 加州立案通過禁止在公立學校（包括高中在內）校園內販賣碳酸飲料和速食，這項法案受到各州密切關注，恐怕將會產生起而傚尤的效應。 在這項被公衛部門稱之為「自第二次世界大戰以來學校午餐最令人欽佩的勝利」的法案中，加州眾議院和參議院都贊成這項立法，認為這項法案讓學生無法在學校販賣機或合作社，接觸到特定飲料和零食，對於降低學童肥胖率必定有所幫助。 這項立法行動，受到州長阿諾史瓦辛格的支持，被支持者形容為抑制肥胖危機的適當規範，卻被評論家嘲笑為政府錯誤的干預行動。 不過，在參眾兩院兩個不同版本的法案僅有微小差異下，這項全國第一樁的法律看起來將會輕騎過關。 「這些官員假定，父母都想保護他們的子女遠離那些不受限制的廣告行銷，和隨處可見的碳酸飲料和垃圾食物。」加州公共衛生提倡中心主任哈樂德‧高爾德斯坦表示：「加州學校不再是碳酸飲料和垃圾食物的大型賣場了。」 另一方面，飲料廠商和許多公民自由意志主義者表示，這項法案立意雖佳，但是卻是在年幼兒童和他們家長之間的一種不適當的介入。他們認為，禁止販賣垃圾食物的決定應當是個別學校的選擇。 「儘管立意甚佳，然而這項法案的通過卻是件不幸的事。」美國飲料公會這麼表示，這個商業公會作為21萬1千個生產不含酒精飲料的廠商代表，他們一年的營業額超過880億美元。他們表示，這項立法「對於對付肥胖這種由包括缺乏運動、攝入過多卡路里、生活型態、基因遺傳等原因組成的複雜問題，只是一何無實質效果的作法」。其他評論家則表示，這種「一體適用」的解決辦法會破壞學校籌措資金的能力，以及對於推動體育課程計畫有所阻礙。 「若是個別學校做出這樣決定我無話可說，但是是由州立法為所有人做下這個決定，可能會傷害到體育教育的收益。」卡托研究所（Cato Institute）公民自由與消費者選擇分析家雷德雷‧布爾柯這麼表示。 一開始，這只是洛杉磯聯合學區（LAUSD）的個別案例，該學區在2003年制訂了地方的碳酸飲料禁令，並在去年禁止販買垃圾食物。由於缺乏收入來源，使得該學區的課後活動和購買排球網到樂隊制服等器材經費，都瀕臨險境。雖然一開始有擔心失卻廠商支持和歲收的隱憂，不過學區官員現在卻表示，他們很高興做出這樣的決定。 6月份，LAUSD和百事可樂的製造廠商Pepsico簽下一項關於飲用水、果汁和運動飲料的新合約，並捐獻2百萬美元作為與學校簽約的附贈禮物。 「現在我們看到碳酸飲料公司回過頭來告訴我們說：『我們有健康的產品，讓我們來推銷這部份的產品吧！』」LAUSD政策與媒體部門經理艾咪‧醉爾賽－海爾德表示：「他們認識到學校是一個巨大的市場，所以假若他們還想繼續玩，就得符合我們的需求。」這就是學校並沒有因為這項禁令而受到任何損失的證據，也因為這項事實，讓這項立法順利過關。 「研究已經顯示，當學校速食餐廳和自動販賣機減少供貨量，孩子就會購買較為營養和健康的食品。」高爾德斯坦說。 而加州的成功也對其他州在排除立法障礙時，產生重大的影響。 這項法案將在未來4年實施。 （資料來源／基督教科學箴言報） |
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| （回目錄） | |
| 中學校園垃圾食物愈來愈多 | |
| 策劃、編譯■成怡夏 | |
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Junk food more available in middle schools 摘要 一項美國政府的調查顯示，糖果、汽水、披薩和其他點心在與營養食品的競爭中，每10所學校就有9所是勝出的。 在中學，垃圾食物原本已經夠多了，但是根據政府會計部門調查顯示，過去5年中學內的垃圾食物變得更多了。「家長應當知道，我們的學校，已成為孩子不健康食物的最大宗來源。」參議員湯姆‧哈金在受訪時這麼表示。 哈金說：「是否有任何人會贊成把學校運動場的籬笆拆去，讓學生在街上遊蕩？同樣的道理，為什麼我們允許學校，以垃圾食物毒害我們的孩童？」 根據政府部門的統計，孩童和青少年的肥胖問題在過去30年間已經加倍；哈金表示，肥胖的孩子在成為成人後會出現慢性的健康問題。 他與其他法律制定者，都希望政府為所有學校制定食物營養標準，而不只是制定餐廳的營養標準。 參議員派屈克‧利希表示，給孩子健康的選擇「不應只是一種建議，而是一種必要性」。肥胖的孩子與成年後的糖尿病、心血管疾病和其他疾病的高發生率，有著正向的關係。 爭議中所謂的具競爭性的食物，如點心、糖果、爆米花等，都常出現在學校的自動販賣機和餐廳中，蘋果和牛奶也是具競爭性的食物，不過由於垃圾食物在自動販賣機中排擠掉其他較健康的食物，學生無緣接觸到。也就是說，所謂具競爭性的食物並沒有做好規範。 而學校在這個議題中成為幫兇。根據調查顯示，30％的中學每年提供超過12萬5千美元的經費，以販賣垃圾食物。GAO表示，至今仍不清楚的是，販賣這些具競爭性食物，究竟讓學校團體或是學校食品部門獲得多少利益？ （資料來源／波士頓全球報） 原文 WASHINGTON --Candy, soda, pizza and other snacks compete with nutritious meals in nine out of 10 schools, a government survey found. Already plentiful in high schools, junk food has become more available in middle schools over the past five years, according to the Government Ac-counting Office, the investigative arm of Congress. "Parents should know that our schools are now one of the largest sources of unhealthy food for their kids," Sen. Tom Harkin, who asked for the study, said in an interview. "Would anyone advocate that we take the fences off the playground for elementary schools and just let kids run around in the streets?" Harkin, D-Iowa, said. "By the same token, why would we allow schools to sort of poison our kids with junk food?" Obesity among children and teenagers more than doubled in the past three decades, according to the government-chartered Institute of Medicine. Obese kids will become adults with chronic health prob-lems, said Harkin, the senior Democrat on the Sen-ate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee. He and other lawmakers want the government to set nutrition standards for food throughout schools and not just in the cafeteria. Giving kids healthier options "should not be a suggestion, it should be a requirement," said Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., another committee member. Kids are suffering from higher rates of diabetes, high blood pressure and other illnesses normally as-sociated with adults, said Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. At issue are so-called competitive foods -- snacks such as candy, soda, pizza and popcorn available in a la carte lines in cafeterias, in vending machines and in school stores. Apples and milk are also com-petitive foods, but the GAO said candy and other junk food crowds out healthier stuff in vending ma-chines and school stores. Competitive foods are largely unregulated. The Agriculture Department had restricted sales of competitive foods until a 1983 federal court rul-ing, in a lawsuit by the National Soft Drink Associa-tion, limited its regulation to food service areas such as cafeterias during mealtime. Schools raise substantial dollars from selling competitive foods; 30 percent of high schools raised more than $125,000 annually. The GAO said it was unclear how much competitive food sales benefited school groups and how much benefited school food service. Advocacy groups point to a government study of 17 schools and districts that improved the nutrition value of their foods. Revenue increased in 12 schools and did not change in four others, the study by the Agriculture Department and Centers for Dis-ease Control and Prevention found. "Schools can make money without selling junk food," said Margo G. Wootan, director of nutrition policy for the Center for Science in the Public Inter-est. The GAO sampled schools that participate in the Agriculture Department's federal school lunch pro-gram, which subsidizes school meals and regulates their nutritional content. Those meals have to follow the government's dietary guidelines, which call for eating more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and less calories, fat, added sugars and sodium. The GAO reported that of 656 schools in its sam-ple, 51 percent of principals and school food direc-tors responded to a Web-based survey. Investigators also traveled to six school districts that have tried to substitute healthier choices for less nutritious foods. The survey's margin of error was plus or minus 15 percentage points. The GAO report, scheduled for release Wednes-day, found: -- Nine in 10 schools sell competitive foods from vending machines, cafeteria a la carte (snack) lines and school stores. -- Vending machines were available in almost all high schools and middle schools but in less than half of elementary schools. -- In one-third of schools, sweet baked goods, salty snacks and other less-nutritious foods were available in cafeteria snack lines. -- Schools often sold competitive foods at lunchtime, in the cafeteria or nearby, allowing kids to buy them for lunch or to supplement their lunch-es. -- Three-quarters of high schools have exclusive soft drink contracts. Sixty-five percent of middle schools have exclusive beverage contracts, up from 26 percent five years ago. |
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| （回目錄） | |
| 3成學童過重 肥胖成為流行病 | |
| 策劃、編譯■成怡夏 | |
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Childhood Obesity Off the Scale in California 摘要 一項新的研究指出，加州有28％的學童體重過重，這讓他們處於疾病高風險群，健康備受威脅。過去的加州人，一向以精瘦的身材和積極旺盛的生活型態著稱，如今，在肥胖問題日趨嚴重之際，肥胖在加州，可說已是一種流行病了。 南加州地區的處境尤為嚴重：在該州十個最大的城市，包括洛杉磯、聖塔安娜和安納罕市，肥胖問題已攀登顛峰，孩童肥胖率分別是36％、35％以及32％。相對地，舊金山的孩童只有24％是過重的，而聖地牙哥只有26％。 根據位在戴維斯的一個非營利組織──加州公衛中心的研究指出，平均來說，加州的過重孩童已超過28％，且是自2001年起，以每年6％的速率成長。 這項報告是基於學校針對五年級、七年級和九年級生所做的體適能測驗。報告也警告，多出的磅數會讓學生增加罹患疾病的風險。據統計數字顯示，3／4的過重青少年會成為肥胖的成人，而2000年出生的孩童有1／3可能會罹患糖尿病。 瓦斯柯的中谷鎮孩童肥胖率最高，為42％。附近的德拉諾孩童肥胖率也超過40％。不過有些地區的孩童肥胖率不高，靠近沙加緬度的艾爾多拉多山腳下的社群肥胖率只有9％，曼哈頓海灘則只有8％。 該研究主持者也表示，一般來說，拉丁裔、太平洋島系和黑人比起其他社群有較高的肥胖率；低收入社群食用速食餐的頻率更高。洛杉磯的城市設計以車子為主，學校的體育教育不彰。不過真正的重點是：對每一個人來說，肥胖問題都變得更嚴重了。 愈來愈多的過重孩童也反映出學校和社區有鼓勵孩童飲食不健康的食物和飲料，以及限制他們的體能活動之嫌。超級市場的展示，以及電視如流水般播放的高熱量商品廣告，都助長這種趨勢。 瑞弗和瑪麗亞‧納法瑞茲夫婦和四個孩子，就在與這些充滿傷害性的影響作戰，雖然家族沒有糖尿病史，14歲的長子被診斷出罹患糖尿病第二型時著實讓他們目瞪口呆。他們檢討後發現，孩子在學校食物選擇不多，且運動量不夠。終於在醫生表示8歲的次子體重也過重後，他們才願意正視這個問題的嚴重性。 Rafael說他並不怪學校，他說家長有責任阻止孩子在學校內，或是出校門後，吃這些不健康的食物，他說，現在他們已開始為孩子準備午餐了。 （資料來源／洛杉磯時報） 原文 In California, renowned for lean bodies and active lifestyles, childhood obesity has reached epidemiclevels, with more than 40％ of the schoolchildren in some commu-nities overweight, according to a new study. Children in Southern California fare particularly badly: Of the state's 10 largest cities, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and Anaheim top the scales, with 36％, 35％ and 32％ of their children overweight, respectively. By comparison, 24％ of San Francisco's children are overweight and 26％ of San Diego's are.Statewide, 28％ of children are overweight, a 6％ increase since 2001, according to the study by the Cali-fornia Center for Public Health Advocacy, a nonprofit orga-nization in Davis. The report, based on public school fitness test scores for fifth-, seventh- and ninth-graders, is the first to look at the percentage of overweight children in specific communities. Those extra pounds are a public health crisis poised to ex-plode into increased rates of debilitating illnesses, the report warns. "We were shocked by the findings, especially when we looked at specific communities," said Harold Goldstein, the center's executive director. "We see regions with more than one-third of kids overweight. It really is scary when you look at the long-term costs in human suffering and the economy. Three-quarters of overweight teens will become obese adults. One-third of children born in 2000 can expect to de-velop diabetes." The Central Valley town of Wasco has the highest per-centage of overweight children: 42％. In nearby Delano, more than 40％ are. And 41％ of the children in the Los An-geles community of Wilmington are overweight. In Pacoima, El Monte, Huntington Park and North Holly-wood, well more than one-third of schoolchildren are over-weight, the study found.The rates were far lower in some ar-eas, including the foothill community of El Dorado Hills near Sacramento, with 9％ of children overweight, and Man-hattan Beach, with 8％.The report's authors determined whether children were overweight by looking at their body fat.Experts say that whether a community's children tend to be fat or fit depends on demographics and socioeconomics. "What is required to explain this in more detail is further study of what is going on in different communities," Gold-stein said. "Latinos, Pacific Islanders and blacks are more overweight than other groups. Low-income communities have a higher density of fast-food outlets, and it takes more effort for people to buy healthy foods. Los Angeles is de-signed for cars, and it doesn't help that schools often don't have physical education anymore. But the point is: The trend is worsening for everyone." Researchers are most concerned with the growing threat to public health. Francine R. Kaufman, director of the Center for En-docrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism at Childrens Hospital Los Angeles, said the diabetes program there is overflowing and can't meet the needs of the numbers of children referred to it."We are seeing kids who are morbidly obese," Kaufman said. "These kids have apnea when they go to sleep at night; they have to go on breathing devices just like adults. They have problems with their livers that we had never seen before in kids that eventually may lead to cirrhosis and the need for a transplant. We're seeing irregular periods and hormone im-balances that may impact fertility." The growing levels of overweight children "reflect condi-tions in schools and communities that encourage children to eat and drink unhealthy foods and beverages and that limit their physical activity," the study asserted. Children and par-ents are enticed by supermarket displays, the convenience of fast food and mouth-watering television ads proffering fatty, sugary goodies. "We're looking at what could be an unending cycle of morbidity and disease," Kaufman said. Families like that of Rafael and Maria Navarez and their four children are fighting to combat such harmful influences. Rafael, 55, said the family was stunned when oldest son Rafael, 14, was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, which is tied to being overweight. Neither he nor his wife has a family his-tory of obesity, Navarez said.But they knew the kids were ex-posed to poor food choices at school and got little exercise. They were reluctant to let them go out in their Boyle Heights neighborhood to play by themselves. The senior Rafael's part-time job as a grocery clerk did not allow for extrava-gances like fresh fruit and vegetables every day. After doctors expressed concern about 8-year-old Sergio's weight and referred the family to the Childrens Hospital pro-gram, they got serious about improving their health. "I don't want to blame the schools," Rafael said. "It's up to us as parents to stop letting kids eat bad food at school or out-side school, and now we make their lunch." |
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