Obesity in America—From Battling an Epidemic to Staging a Revolution

May 12, 2010

Years ago, “obesity in America” was a good topic gateway into a new diet or exercise fad explanation. Then obesity rates rose dramatically in every state and people began noticing that countless children were too overweight to properly enjoy recess. Obesity became the next dangerous American epidemic.

Since then, legislation has been introduced that requires food chains in certain geographical regions to post the calorie counts on their menu boards; the “heaviest” states now boast obesity rates greater than 30% and we know that in fact childhood obesity rates tripled in the last 20 years.

Now, we are staging a Revolution against Obesity.  British chef and television personality, Jamie Oliver has become the visible advocate of the Food Revolution—charging that American kids need better food at school to improve their health prospects. Michelle Obama agrees.  She has taken the charge with a goal of reducing childhood obesity from nearly 20 percent to 5 percent by 2030.

Undoubtedly, there will be casualties in the obesity revolution. (We all know obesity is a big business.) The food industry is at the front lines, but the White House is now calling on food marketers to curb the marketing of unhealthy foods to children. The recommendation is a part of a report, released Tuesday, that outlines measures to fight the national epidemic. The report additionally recommends that the Federal Communications Commission consider stronger regulations if these recommendations are not implemented.  The battle has begun.

To learn more, click here.

posted by Northlich May 12, 2010 in blog, cultural storms

comments

Heidi Pogner says: May 13, 2010 at 12:13 pm I don’t often post, but I really feel a need to say I am big supporter for Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution. When my nephews started school, I made an effort to pack their lunches. The memory of using 10 to 15 napkins to “soak” the grease from the rectangular pizzas I ate from grade school through High School still haunts me to this day. It was not until my sophomore year of High School more “healthy” food were introduced, and often this a heavy cheese/meat/egg chef salad, and an over-waxed red apple. I honestly feel for Jamie Oliver. He has met resistance from schools and parents, usually in smaller towns, with the argument they grew up eating institutional food, and they turned out fine. Of course, they are often forgetting they are now plagued with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and weight gain they never seem able to shed. Unfortunately, they do not realize this was how they were trained to eat from an early age, and now they suffer the consequences. Schools scrambling to save their already stretched revenue opt for cheap and filling food. Jamie Oliver is trying to change the entire mindset of institutional eating that has been outdated for decades. What a big challenge! I fully support his efforts, and any efforts made to revolutionize the current school lunch menus! Reply reginald says: August 6, 2010 at 12:34 pm man ur gay! Reply