Should junk food be banned in schools?

Today, about one in three American kids and teens is overweight or obese; nearly triple the rate in 1963. I believe school is where the children lay their foundations and schools should not be selling snacks that are high in fat and loaded with sugar. I believe schools should only sell snacks that are low in fat and reduced or sugar-free in the a la cart line in the cafeteria and in the vending machines. Sixty percent of overweight five to ten year old children already have one-associated cardiovascular risk factors. Of course there are many factors that cause such a high percentage of children to be obese. One of the main influences of childhood obesity is poor nutrition. 

Taking junk foods out of schools could only produce a positive outcome. The children would be at a lower risk for physical diseases, mental obstacles, and prevent them of having a higher death rate. Among children today, obesity is causing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and elevated blood cholesterol levels, and those are just some physical damages. Children obesity can also trigger low self-esteem, negative body image and depression.  Children who are obese in schools are more likely to get picked on then those who more physically fit. 

Obesity isn’t just a short term phase a child can go through, but an actual long term disease that can a change a person’s life forever. There are many repercussions for children who start living unhealthy as a young kid. Children eat about half their daily calories at school so it stands to reason that replacing unhealthy competitive foods with healthy choices would reduce obesity. Soda and junk food would be replaced with more nutritional substitutions. The student will still have the freedom to choose a snack but it will be between more beneficial and healthy items.