University of Wisconsin - Extension

For many people coming out of the holiday season, a thicker waistline serves as a reminder of the festivities. But for some, teens included, fast food, a proliferation of vending machines, overall poor eating habits and lack of exercise can add up to more than a few leftover holiday pounds - it's a way of life with scary results.

The health consequences of childhood obesity are asthma, Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, low self-esteem and depression.

Teen Connection tackles the issue on its next program -- 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, on Wisconsin Public Television (WPT). It's a live, call-in program that will air on all six WPT stations, as well as WMVS-TV /Milwaukee.

A panel of teens from East High School in Appleton will share their experiences coming from a school district that last year removed all vending machines from its cafeterias as part of an overall health-inducing effort.

Mikki Duran, the physical education and health program leader for the Appleton Area School District spearheaded the move, along with others. She said, "The administration has been behind improving the health of our kids from the beginning."

That included a pilot program at some of the schools combining nutrition education and five-day-a-week physical education. The vending machine removal, too, was important.

"We decided we just weren't' going to make money off of selling our kids an unhealthy lifestyle," Duran said.

A fast-food lifestyle - often super sized -- also contributes to the problem. For

example, research has shown that a Double Whooper with cheese contains 6 tablespoons of fat. A Big Mac carries about 2 1/2 tablespoons of fat.

Teen Connection will visit J.R. Gerrits Middle School in Kimberly to document students in Kim Leupold's students as they slather fat onto cafeteria buns to simulate the amount of fat in common fast-food offerings. In the video, students cringe as nearly 10 tablespoons of fat drip from the edges of each "fat sandwich."

Viewers can call toll-free at (877) 988-2888 during Teen Connection. Some calls will be selected for on-air discussion.

For more resources, check wpt.org/teenconnection

Dean Thomas and Eileen Littig co-produce Teen Connection. It is a production of NEWIST/CESA #7 and WPT.

Sula Kim hosts the program and appears courtesy of WBAY-TV/Green Bay.

Teen Connection originates from the WPT studios in Green Bay. Toll-free service is provided courtesy of Nsight Long Distance.

WPT is a service of the Educational Communications Board and the University of Wisconsin-Extension.

Wisconsin Public Television is a place to grow through learning on WHA-TV/DT, Madison; WPNE-TV/DT, Green Bay; WHRM-TV/DT, Wausau; WLEF-TV/DT, Park Falls; WHLA-TV/DT, La Crosse; and WHWC-TV/DT, Menomonie-Eau Claire.