Boarding Schools for Girls

Many people turn to junk food when theyre feeling anxious or sad -- a familiar practice for many women and teen girls . But a new study out of Australia has found that unhealthy food could increase  not decrease  feelings of anxiety and depression in women.

Researchers from the University of Melbourne found that mood disorders were more common among women aged 20 to 93 who, over 10 years, ate primarily processed, refined, high-fat foods. &

When they assessed how diet might relate to mood disorders, they found that a "Western" diet  eating primarily hamburgers, white bread, pizza, chips, flavored milk drinks, beer, and sugar-laden foods  was associated with a 50 percent greater likelihood for depressive disorders. (Source: Reuters)

The team reviewed diet and mental health information for over 1,000 women, and found that 121 had depressive and/or anxiety disorders. High instances of depression and anxiety were consistent even when the study results were adjusted for factors such as age, weight, social and economic status and physical activity.

Labels: nutrition, mental health, depression, junk-food

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The Iowa state public school system plans to crack down on junk food sold in schools. New rules for 2009 eliminate sodas, French fries, fried foods, and low-nutrient, high-calorie snacks in cafeterias. As for vending machine offerings, beverages must have a nutritional value and snacks cannot have more than 200 calories.

Many school food service directors worry about a drop in sales if students decide to leave campuses to go to restaurants for lunch.

Fruits and vegetables just do not sell well, according to Ann Feilmann, food supervisor for Marshalltown schools. "If it's an open campus," she said, "we're going to become a less interesting place to shop for lunch and they'll leave."

Labels: public-schools, nutrition, junk-food

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