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The Coulee Region Childhood Obesity Coalition wants to create an environment where it is easier for students to make healthy food and beverage choices.
"Obesity is skyrocketing," said Beth Balder Schroeder, a coalition member. "We're selling our kids short by not taking an opportunity to develop even healthier eating and beverage habits."
Balder Schroeder said one in three children today is overweight or obese, and soda and snack foods are increasingly replacing healthy choices such as milk.
"It's really frightening," she said. "We know overweight children will become overweight adults."
Childhood is a critical time for bone development, as 98 percent of maximum bone density is reached by age 20, Balder Schroeder said.
While acknowledging that schools make money from vending sales, Balder Schroeder said studies show students will buy healthier foods and drinks if they are available and cost-effective.
"I'm frankly at a loss as to why pop is offered in school at all," board member Mark Huesmann said.
Board President Dardy Berge suggested a study be done on the number of vending machines in the school, what they provide and where the money goes.
Board member Joe Upton said the district's Policy Committee should be charged with such a study and report back to the board.
In La Crosse County, the number of overweight children has jumped from 15 to 17 percent five years ago to about 25 percent, said Linda Lee, co-chairwoman of the obesity coalition.
Children spend a large portion of their day in school, and "the coalition was really concerned about what was contributing to obesity," Lee said.
Superintendent Fred Frick said the district has no policy on vending machines.
Board member Anita Jagodzinski, however, questioned whether the district had entered into a contract with a soda company that paid for the Viking Field scoreboard.
Obesity coalition members have attended other area school board meetings, and are "very interested in doing what they can to create a healthy environment," Lee said.
Ed Hoskin can be reached at ehoskin@lacrossetribune.com or (608) 791-8226.
