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J. S. STERN, Dept. of Nutrition, Univ. of California, Davis, 1 Shields Ave., 3150-B Meyer Hall, Davis, CA 95616-8669 Like many other diseases, part of the cause and treatment of obesity involve personal responsibility. Unlike other diseases, society’s solution to obesity is to blame the patient and not cover treatment for obesity by health insurance. Over 60% of adult Americans are overweight/obese. Obesity is associated with more than 30 comorbidities, diseases that get worse as obesity (body weight) increases and get better as body weight decreases (www.obesity.org). The cost of obesity to the healthcare system is over $117 billion yearly. The Federal government has to step up to the plate. NIH should triple their $327 million obesity research budget and equal that being spent on heart disease, one of the major comoribidities associated with obesity. CDC should be given more money to fund more prevention programs. Where is the USDA? USDA should be taking a leadership role in examining the role that its current policies (e.g., crop supports and food assistant programs)play in the obesity epidemic. The FTC needs more power and funds to pursue consumer fraud. Medicare should cover drugs to treat obesity. The FDA should continue with its project to make food labeling more transparent and should be fast tracking obesity drugs. State and local governments should provide funds for daily physical activity in grades K to 12. The Food Industry should examine its practices that have lead to the enormous increases in portion size and examine roles that specific ingredients/foods may play in development of obesity. TV advertising on children’s programs should be limited to those foods that contribute to a healthy diet. Which means – milk yes; soft drinks and juice – no. The National Restaurant Association should stop its opposition to labeling of menu boards and menus in chains of restaurants with 20 or more stores. It would be best to do this without legislation but this requires that we all step up to the plate.
Session 9, Politics of obesity: Revisited
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