Arguments in favor of banning junk food: A 2001 Surgeon General report found that 14 percent of American children are obese. The report also noted that 300,000 people die each year from obesity-related illnesses or conditions made worse by obesity. Junk foods high in fat and sugar can cause weight gain and obesity, which puts children at risk for diabetes and other health problems.  Schools should provide healthier food choices and get rid of junk food in vending machines.  Eating a lot of sugary food makes students less able to pay attention in class or perform well on tests.  Parents should monitor a child's diet, but when a student is away from their parents, the school must function as a parent and do what is best for the students. While the parents cannot be there to oversee a student's meals, a school should make sure those meals do not include junk food.  Schools should set a good example of nutritious eating for students. This would fit in well with nutrition curriculum in health classes.

Arguments against banning junk food: Students will try to bring in junk food even if it is banned. Enforcing such a ban would force school officials to dig through lunch boxes, lockers and desks. This would harm students' privacy.  It is up to the parents to decide what food their children can eat. If children want to include a bit of junk food in their lunches, they should be allowed to do so.  Junk food is not bad in itself- if you eat a little bit of it, it can be part of a healthy diet.  Students might be more likely to go off the school grounds to eat meals. Food from local fast food restaurants might be worse than school lunches, even if those school lunches have some junk food.  Students should be trusted to make decisions about their diet. Schools should provide information about healthy eating to the students, but leave the decisions up to them.  Schools can offer healthy options in cafeteria meals without completely banning junk food from the schools.