Letter: Help students with better diets

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Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2004 | 8:56 a.m.

I want to thank the Clark County School District for responding so positively to our organization's assessment of the district's lunch menus ("District improves kids' lunches," Aug. 19). As our report showed, Clark County has made impressive progress -- and that's wonderful news, because kids today need all the help they can get to eat a healthful diet.

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic levels, and type 2 diabetes, hypertension and cholesterol problems once thought to be limited to adults are plaguing more and more young people.

The problem? Far too many kids consume a super-sized diet full of cheeseburgers, fried chicken and other high-fat foods. It's gotten so bad that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now predict that obesity will soon pass tobacco use as America's leading cause of death.

To avert this disaster, parents and schools must work together to help students kick the junk food habit.

JENNIFER KELLER

Editor's note: Jennifer Keller is the nutrition coordinator for the Washington-based organization Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a group which, among other projects, promotes a vegetarian diet.