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Free school meals for all may reduce childhood obesity, while easing financial and logistical burdens for families and schools (theconversation.com)

submitted 8 months ago by jeffw@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world

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[+] cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works -16 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Ain't nothing gonna reduce child obesity if it can't also reduce adult obesity... Most of what a kid eats is what their parents eat

Edit: Jesus guys, correlation != causation. They're getting more food. More food = bigger tum tum. Not all good things need to also be hailed as a cure for obesity.

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[-] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 13 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Most of what a kid eats is what their parents eat

Did you read the article? What if most of what a kid is eating isn't what their parents are eating?

Since that time, there has been a substantial increase in schools participating in the Community Eligibility Provision, a federal policy that allows schools in high poverty areas to provide free breakfast and lunch to all attending students.

So these kids are eating two meals a day that aren't directly provided by their parent. Sounds like most of their meals aren't what their parents are eating.

Also, if they are in extreme hardship, they may not even get to eat dinner with their parents.

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[+] cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works -16 points 8 months ago

We're still talking about obesity, right?

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[-] Isoprenoid@programming.dev 1 points 8 months ago

Nah, talking about what kids eat compared to what their parents eat.

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[+] cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works -19 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Ok. Cause I was talking about obesity in case you forgot

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[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 5 points 8 months ago

But your argument is that they are obese because they eat what their parents eat, right? So if 2/3rds of their meals aren’t from those unhealthy parents, wouldn’t the kids be healthier?

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[+] cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works -10 points 8 months ago

It would, assuming they still get 3 meals either way

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[-] jeffw@lemmy.world 2 points 8 months ago

So this is a good thing then?

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[-] cryptosporidium140@sh.itjust.works -4 points 8 months ago

Yes

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[-] Dagwood222@lemm.ee 6 points 8 months ago

If kids are getting fed at school, that means the family can afford better stuff. Even if they keep buying garbage, the kids will be exposed to the idea of healthy eating.