Two Knoxville physicians visited U.S. Rep. John J. Duncan Jr. to discuss with him the alarming news of widespread obesity among teenagers and what can be done about it. Duncan has eaten lunch at cafeterias during many visits to schools in Knox and other counties in his district. He already knew there are many overweight kids out there. He has seen them eating chips, chugging soft drinks and munching on other unhealthy food not prepared by the cafeteria. The problem is nationwide.
Many students eat too much junk and exercise too little, so they get overweight.
Also, students with a family history showing trends of easy, quick weight gain, can experience weight gains sooner than families with slim genes. In January, however, the departing Clinton administration urged Congress to give the U.S. Department of Agriculture more authority to regulate the use of vending machines at schools that contain food and drink with little or no nutritional value. There already is a federal rule requiring turning off snack and soft drink vending machines during school meal times, but the federal government relies on states to enforce the rule. A number of schools don't follow the rule and are not fined. Sen. Pat Leahy, D-Vt., knows of schools that give away soft drinks during lunch hours to get around the rule against selling them.