The most visible food in the hospital is in vending machines. And it isn’t pretty: see the unedited photo at right.

In the U.S., we have 25% more vending machines in each children’s hospital than does Canada. In fact, U.S. kids’ hospitals average 9.3 vending machines each.

What’s in hospital vending machines? 99 out of 101 kids hospitals have soft drink vending machines.  30% of all beverages inside are soda; fewer than 20% are water.  One quarter of offerings are candy: more than any other food.

In schools with vending machines, kids buy more sugar-sweetened soda than anything else. And soda, more than any other food, causes childhood obesity. Candy and chips, the next best-selling vended items nationally, are second and third.

But the people who make their way down to the glassy doors of treats 365/24/7 are not just kids.

They’re adults: parents, visitors, staff.  Chef Clinic research has shown that in-hospital eating is one of two major predictors of physician obesity.

Many people overeat when they are stressed, and turn to junk food as comfort.  The vending machine provides that.  And makes you fat, at the same time.

Good vending choices do exist from usual vendors and healthy vending others. Some health care institutions in California have developed policies that set nutrition standards for foods and beverages in vending machines. That’s the right direction.

But you shouldn’t have to wait, the next time a child is sick, for food that helps you stay healthy and strong. After all, it’s a hospital.