More On The Fight Against Childhood Obesity

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kideatingsandwichFrom Your Health Journal…..”I do enjoy promoting The Economist web site often, as they have wonderful health related stories quite often. Today’s article is entitled The gentle fight against childhood obesity. I do suggest you visit The Economist web site (link provided below), as it captures much of the problem in halting childhood obesity. As we know, childhood obesity has had some success in specific regions of the United States, but in most areas, it is still a problem. Mayor Bloomberg has suggested some changes in NYC, and First Lady Michelle Obama has done a good job with her Let’s Move initiative. But, there is still work to be done. I really did enjoy this article, so please visit their site to read more. I placed a small tease below as well.”

From the article…..

“Nanny”, “tyrant”—these were among the charges hurled at Michael Bloomberg, New York’s mayor, when he proposed a ban on big fizzy-drink bottles last May. The billionaire shrugged and pushed forward. However even Mr. Bloomberg must heed a court order. The American Beverage Association, which represents Coca-Cola and other soda companies, has sued. Mr Bloomberg’s ban is due to start on March 12th, but a judge may intervene.

Three years after Michelle Obama launched her Let’s Move! campaign, the fight against childhood obesity faces a tactical problem. Recent years have seen dipping obesity rates in a few places, including New York, Mississippi and Philadelphia. But 17% of American children are still obese. The question is how to speed up progress. Further bans look increasingly unlikely.

Voluntary programmes remain politically much easier. Mrs Obama has exhorted firms to take action. Many companies have. On March 6th the Partnership for a Healthier America, a business group, published a report praising its members for putting more grocers in poor areas and healthier foods at restaurants. Sixteen food and beverage companies have promised to slash a combined 1.5 trillion calories from their products by 2015. Their first progress report is due in June. The long-term effect of these efforts may be slim. For example, even if the food and drink firms keep their promise, they would cut just 14 calories from the average American’s daily diet.

Regulations might bring bigger change, but recent years suggest that such rules will come slowly, if at all. Congress did pass a law requiring healthier school lunches, though its effects are limited. Other attempts at national regulation have stalled. Four federal agencies studied voluntary guidelines to limit junk-food advertisements to children. Under pressure from Congress, the agencies dropped the effort. Obamacare requires that all restaurants and cinemas post the number of calories in their foods. The Food and Drug Administration proposed a rule for menus in 2011, but has yet to finalize the regulation.

To read the full article…..Click here