Battle Against US Childhood Obesity Sees Success

Editor's Choice
Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Also Included In: Pediatrics / Children's Health
Article Date: 08 Mar 2013 - 11:00 PST


U.S. groups and companies that have tried to change the country's growing childhood obesity rate are starting to see noteworthy outcomes as more American children exercise and have better access to healthy foods, a new study reports.

Exercise has been widely publicised, and has successfully encouraged 3 million children to start becoming more physically active over the last year.

The current report was released by The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in accordance with First Lady Michelle Obama. It is the first progress update on the private sector's solutions to solve childhood obesity throughout the U.S.

The findings were released as PHA starts its second "Building a Healthier Future Summit" in Washington D.C., where experts from the private and public sectors united to pinpoint solutions to the childhood obesity epidemic that has become a major public health issue the U.S.

In 2010, President Obama issued a task force to address the nation's growing childhood obesity problem. It came about as a part of Michelle Obama's "Let's Move" campaign, in an effort to combine the work of the public and private sectors to help children become more active in their everyday lives and adopt a healthier diet.

HA CEO Lawrence A. Soler explains:

"Our partner organizations are making changes to their operations and their business practices that help make healthier choices easier for busy parents and families. This report is about holding a mirror up to efforts against those commitments - many of which are multi-year - and giving the public a clear understanding of their progress."

Although the effort has achieved a great deal, some health advocates are saying that even more of an effort is needed, including government input.

Currently in the U.S., one in three children is obese and another third are considered overweight. Health professionals are concerned because overweight children have a higher risk of being overweight as adults and may develop heart disease, diabetes, and other health issues.

Health experts have been critical of certain food companies for selling unhealthy products. Manufacturers have always cited consumer choice, but many have started to change their products recently as a growing number of U.S. consumers become more health conscious.

Significant points of the report include:

• 2.95 million children became active in 2012.
• 8,100 new physical activity opportunities were made accessible in 2012.
• Physical activity promotional events took place in 1,713 cities in 2012<./li>
• 141 new or renovated grocery stores or other locations have opened.
• 507,293 people who did not have easy access now have new or renovated grocery stores.
• $18 million has been spent in efforts to pay for new retail locations and innovative food distribution programs.

Soler concluded:

"We know the private sector alone cannot solve this crisis - it will take work from everyone, including communities, schools, non-profits, governments, families and more. PHA commends our partners for the remarkable goals they have set to help make it easier for kids and families to make the healthy choice."

Written by Kelly Fitzgerald
Copyright: Medical News Today
Not to be reproduced without permission of Medical News Today

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