U.S. obesity epidemic prompts changes in public policy, industries

Posted on Sun, Apr. 18, 2004

U.S. obesity epidemic prompts changes in public policy, industries

BY SUMANA CHATTERJEE

Knight Ridder Newspapers

WASHINGTON - As the American waistline disappears amid growing girth,
public-health advocates are struggling over how to slim down a nation that
loves fast food, soft drinks and sitting on the couch.

"We're just too darn fat, ladies and gentlemen, and we're going to do
something about it," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson
said recently. He unveiled a multimillion-dollar ad campaign that
encourages people to take "small steps" toward governing their children's
diets and encouraging more physical activity, such as climbing stairs
instead of taking the elevator.

Thompson's announcement was the latest in a flurry of federal measures to
address obesity. Critics say the government could do more, but they
recognize that the politics of obesity is complex and will take time to
fight.

Obesity is defined as a body-mass index of fat greater than 30 percent. The
problem is reaching epidemic proportions. In the last decade, America's
obesity rate has doubled. An estimated 64 percent of U.S. adults are
overweight or obese. And 15 percent of children and adolescents between
ages 6 and 19 are overweight. In 1992 only six states had adult obesity
rates of 15 to 19 percent; 10 years later, 18 states did.

Obesity promotes many chronic diseases, including cardiovascular disease,
several types of cancer, musculo-skeletal disorders, sleep apnea and
gallbladder disease, according to Dr. Julie Gerberding, the director of the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Obesity and a sedentary
lifestyle also strongly increase the risk of diabetes, the sixth-leading
cause of death.

If current trends continue, being fat could overtake smoking as the
nation's No. 1 cause of preventable death, the CDC warned last month. The
problem "is becoming too significant for the life insurance industry to
ignore," according to Swiss Re, a risk-management firm that specializes in
insurance. Its analysts say companies might increase life insurance
premiums for obese consumers.

Three in five U.S. health-care dollars are spent on obesity-related
illnesses, according to the HHS. An estimated $95 billion is spent annually
on federal medical costs related to obesity, and state governments spend
another $75 billion. "The long-term effects of obesity on our nation's
health and on our economy" shouldn't be underestimated, the CDC's
Gerberding said.

McDonald's announced that it's launching an anti-obesity education campaign
to promote exercise and a balanced diet. The world's largest fast-food
chain will offer a "Go Active" Happy Meal for adults that includes a salad,
water and a pedometer.

The move follows a number of lawsuits against the company from people who
blame their obesity on McDonald's food. It's the latest of many restaurants
that have begun offering more healthy choices in reaction to lawsuits and
consumer demand.

Last month the House of Representatives passed the "Personal Responsibility
in Food Consumption Act" to protect the food and beverage industry from
civil lawsuits. Under the measure, known as the "Cheeseburger Bill," people
who buy food or drinks couldn't sue the companies that made them, the
stores that sold them or the restaurants that served them if they got fat
from the products, so long as the products met existing laws. The Senate is
expected to take up a similar bill later this year.

Congress hasn't developed a comprehensive plan to address the obesity
epidemic, but some lawmakers are trying to take small steps in that
direction. A national highway-construction bill included money for local
governments to build sidewalks and bike paths, to encourage children to
walk or ride bikes to school. The Senate unanimously passed legislation to
study how the National School Lunch Program and other government food
assistance can address obesity. The measure also established a grant
program for communities to promote physical activities for children.

Nutrition advocates are pushing for legislation that would require better
nutrition labeling at chain restaurants where menus are uniform. For
example, fast food menu boards would list calories per item and a
restaurant chain's sit-down menus would list calories, saturated fat and
sodium content.

"Some fast food places and chain restaurants already give nutrition
information for the healthy options. That shows it is possible. So why not
on all the items?" said Margo Wootam, the director of nutrition policy at
the Center for Science in the Public Interest, an advocacy group based in
Washington.

The Food and Drug Administration has asked the food industry to voluntarily
revise nutrition labels by putting the calorie count in larger type and
providing a percentage of daily value for calories, similar to the scores
now given for fats.

But the Bush administration has proposed cutting funding for a CDC project
to promote physical activity among 9- to 13-year-olds, from $36 million
this year to $5 million in 2005. In fiscal 2000, its first year, the
program, known as the VERB campaign, received $125 million, but its funding
has declined steadily despite the CDC's assertions that targeted children
exercised 30 percent more.

Obesity is a global problem, having an impact on developing countries as
well as rich ones, as societies change from people working on farms to
standing in factories to sitting at desks, said David Porter, a spokesman
for the World Health Organization.

The WHO will release recommendations before a meeting May 17 of its 192
member countries to adopt a global strategy for reducing obesity. The WHO
is expected to propose that governments help reduce obesity by changing tax
and subsidy programs to encourage healthy diets instead of those high in
processed foods, sugars and fat.

The trade group for the U.S. food and beverage industry opposes that
approach. "Food taxes have been shown not to work" and they penalize the
poor, said Richard Martin, a spokesman for the Grocery Manufacturers of
America.

He added that "what constitutes a healthy diet differs for every
individual, and prescriptions on what one person should or should not eat
does not work."

Washington influences food choices by its trade and subsidy policies on
corn, soybeans and sugar, the three main ingredients in processed foods,
countered Marion Nestle, the author of the book "Food Politics." Nestle is
a nutrition professor and the director of New York University's Public
Health Initiatives.

So why not harness government power to promote good health? she asked.

Advocates are bracing for a long fight, but they think the epidemic already
is changing minds. For example, in the 1990s, school districts across the
country were installing snack and beverage vending machines to raise money
for athletic equipment, band uniforms and library books.

Now many are having second thoughts and developing ways "to raise money in
ways that don't undermine children's health," Wootam said. Last year
California banned selling soda in elementary and middle schools. A dozen
other states are considering similar legislation.

"The rising obesity rates have caused people to rethink practices that were
acceptable in the past," Wootam said.

ON THE WEB

National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion's page
on overweight and obesity, www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity

Center for Science in the Public Interest's guide to improving school foods
and beverages, http://cspinet.org/schoolfood/index.html

World Health Organization's global strategy on diet, physical activity and
health, www.who.int/hpr/global.strategy.shtml

Grocery Manufacturers of America, www.gmabrands.com

The U.S. government's nutrition site, www.nutrition.gov

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On 18 Apr 2004 07:36:11 +0200, Trinity wrote:

NR is posting drek in the wrong groups again. SSFA is not interested
in this diet talk.

NR likes to advertise his status as sub human.

Too bad. Most of us have better things to do.

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


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NR is posting drek in the wrong groups again. SSFA is not interested
in this diet talk.

NR likes to advertise his status as sub human.

Too bad. Most of us have better things to do.

LV


While he might not have gone about it in a very humane way, he has a
point... It is important to make sure that persaonal responsibility
is taught to children in schools, along with proper nutritional
guidelines, so that they can make the right decisions throughout life.
This is the only way that they will learn to eat snack foods in
moderation, and get plenty of the healthy foods as a base to their
diet. Personal responsibility and moderation are very important in
our mission to improve the health of our nation.

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On 19 Apr 2004 12:45:31 -0700, (bencon) wrote:

NR is posting drek in the wrong groups again. SSFA is not
interested in this diet talk.

NR likes to advertise his status as sub human.

Too bad. Most of us have better things to do.

LV


While he might not have gone about it in a very humane way, he has a
point... It is important to make sure that persaonal responsibility
is taught to children in schools, along with proper nutritional
guidelines, so that they can make the right decisions throughout
life.
This is the only way that they will learn to eat snack foods in
moderation, and get plenty of the healthy foods as a base to their
diet. Personal responsibility and moderation are very important in
our mission to improve the health of our nation.

He has no interest in that or any other cause. He is here because he
get off on ridicule and that is not welcome here.

He has no point except on his head.

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


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On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 21:55:14 GMT, Lady Veteran ,
wrote:

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On 19 Apr 2004 12:45:31 -0700, (bencon) wrote:

NR is posting drek in the wrong groups again. SSFA is not
interested in this diet talk.

NR likes to advertise his status as sub human.

Too bad. Most of us have better things to do.

LV


While he might not have gone about it in a very humane way, he has a
point... It is important to make sure that persaonal responsibility
is taught to children in schools, along with proper nutritional
guidelines, so that they can make the right decisions throughout
life.
This is the only way that they will learn to eat snack foods in
moderation, and get plenty of the healthy foods as a base to their
diet. Personal responsibility and moderation are very important in
our mission to improve the health of our nation.

He has no interest in that or any other cause. He is here because he
get off on ridicule and that is not welcome here.

He has no point except on his head.

LV


Yet no matter how much you hate and obsess over him, he still had a
point that led to an on-topic conversation and there isn't a thing you
can do about it except try to get people to focus on your shenanigans.
I bet that hurts.

You are a sad creature.

Sarge

I agree that as annoying as he might be to you, he posted a good
article for conversation. I for one agree with beacon that it is the
responibility of the parent or individual not the school or food
suppliers to ensure that their chidlren are eating what they are
suppose to. Healthy food and junk food are all about balance and
learning that a little of everything is ok. Children in schools are
not going to become obese if they have a coke every once in a while
when getting exercies and eathing a healthy diet. JMOP

"We're just too darn fat, ladies and gentlemen, and we're going to do
something about it," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson
said recently. He unveiled a multimillion-dollar ad campaign

What a joke! When the government wages a war on obesity, you can bet
the ranch that this is the perfect time to invest in companies that
make Plus-Sized Clothing and Seat Belt Extenders!

And the government is off to a wonderful start -- first they ban the
science-based ephedra supplements, which were inexpensive and
effective, and then these geniuses decide to substitute "a
multimillion-dollar ad campaign."

That's the equivalent of replacing surgeons with cheerleaders.

Live Long and Prosper!
DrumLib

DrumLib's Health Research Review
http://www.drumlib.com
Vitamin Price Comparison
http://www.drumlib.com/bestprice.htm
Disclaimer
http://www.drumlib.com/terms.htm

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On 22 Apr 2004 15:09:52 -0700, (DrumLib) wrote:

"We're just too darn fat, ladies and gentlemen, and we're going to
do something about it," Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy
Thompson said recently. He unveiled a multimillion-dollar ad
campaign

What a joke! When the government wages a war on obesity, you can bet
the ranch that this is the perfect time to invest in companies that
make Plus-Sized Clothing and Seat Belt Extenders!

And the government is off to a wonderful start -- first they ban the
science-based ephedra supplements, which were inexpensive and
effective, and then these geniuses decide to substitute "a
multimillion-dollar ad campaign."

That's the equivalent of replacing surgeons with cheerleaders.

Live Long and Prosper!
DrumLib

DrumLib's Health Research Review
http://www.drumlib.com
Vitamin Price Comparison
http://www.drumlib.com/bestprice.htm
Disclaimer
http://www.drumlib.com/terms.htm

in the 1950's there was a Communist under the bed. today it is a fat
person in the corner. People are so gullible and mob oriented. The
voice that says that heroin chic and concentration camp physics is
ridiculous will be found to be unpatriotic.

Or at the very least, be called a non-comformist.. God forbid.

LV


Lady Veteran
- -----------------------------------
"I rode a tank and held a general's rank
when the blitzkrieg raged and the bodies stank..."
- -Rolling Stones, Sympathy for the Devil
- ------------------------------------------------
People who hide behind anonymous remailers and
ridicule fat people are cowardly idiots with no
motive but malice.
- ---------------------------------------------
"To Do Is To Be" Socrates
"To Be Is To Do" Plato
"Do Be Do Be Do" Sinatra
- -------------------------------


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