There was a man with tongue of wood

If poet William Wordsworth was correct that “The child is father of the man,” then we can expect some really fat men in the coming generation.

Based on data from high school students, the problem is, well, looming large.

Note that even where the trend is not statistically increasing, it is still increasing.

If lifetime habits are formed when we are young, then the target of our efforts should be clear.

Common wisdom is that the schools, from which these data come, are part of the problem and the solution. Because they are often under-funded, they accept money from food companies for placement of vending machines. There is widespread belief that snacks and sugary drinks in those machines are part of the problem of obesity. Some districts have put restrictions on what can be in those machines.

For example, here is a 2005 National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) summary

Whether those restrictions are sufficient to mitigate the harm is beyond the scope of this posting.

Then, there is the more basic question of whether the impact of vending machines is real or merely plausible. A study by Penn State researchers found no link between vending machines and obesity, contrary to the expectations of the researchers.

The scope of the problem and the accompanying political debate is well-described in the February 20, 2012 New York Times.

The challenge to our society, shown below, is clear even if the solution remains illusory.