Changes needed to fight childhood obesity

As modern Americans, we live efficient, exciting lives and are accustomed to luxuries that other countries simply cannot afford. Unfortunately, one major crisis we can't seem to shake is obesity.

Fast-food restaurants dominate our country's landscape and massive snack and candy companies are increasing their impact on our lives. Many even sponsor our children's school lunches. Obesity, fast becoming the No. 1 cause of preventable death in our country, seems to be having the greatest impact on our children.

Currently, 15 percent of U.S. adolescents (age 12 to 19) are overweight - more than three times the number in 1980.

We need to revamp the meager national standards for school lunches with the use of local, fresh, whole products such as fruits and vegetables and throw out the junk being served to students. Physical education needs to be of greater priority and the input of corporate food conglomerates in our schools needs to be put to a stop.

Quentin Misiag

West High School student

Iowa City