Buying vended foods and beverages regularly may lead to poor eating habits in children, according to findings published in the Journal of School Health. In fact, if a poor diet becomes a long-term occurrence, individuals may be more likely to suffer from various health problems, such as obesity.
In order to better understand how vending machine purchases impact students diets, more than 2,300 children were surveyed about their use of the machines.
The researchers discovered that 22 percent of students said they consume vended snacks and beverages daily during the school week. Furthermore, the results showed that individuals who purchased vended foods and beverages had lower intake levels of fiber, vitamin B and iron as opposed to those who didnt use the machines.
The team concluded that in order to improve dietary choices, healthier offerings should be put in the machines.
“The foods that children are exposed to early on in life influence the pattern for their eating habits as adults,” said Madhuri Kakarala, lead author of the study. She added that “a healthy school food environment can reduce these dietary risks.”
From 2007 to 2008, approximately 17 percent of Americans aged 2 to 19 years old were categorized as obese, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.