US anti-obesity program only half hearted

Main Category: Obesity / Weight Loss / Fitness
Article Date: 15 Mar 2004 - 0:00 PDT

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Americans are being told on the one hand, that an aggressive campaign is underway to fight obesity. The words and rhetoric pour out from government departments.

But the reality seems to be that they are frightened of tackling the problem head on.

Tommy Thompson, US Secretary of Health and Human Services, said only a few days ago 'We need to address America's weight issues as aggressively as we are addressing smoking and tobacco.'

So far, Americans have seen some public service ads and no more.

FACT

- The Bush administration wants to cut a successful advertising campaign, called VERB, which was getting children to do more exercise. It was costing $35 million, they want to cut the cost to $5 million.

- A House Committee will not provide fresh fruits and vegetables to schoolchildren. They had the authority to implement it, it was their call.

- The House voted to stop obese people from suing junk food restaurants.

- The House Committee rejected a plan to encourage the federal government to set standards for goods sold in vending machines in schools.

- Asking restaurants to tell customers how many calories each meal has is not obligatory, restaurants do not have to do it.

So far, the American public has received lots of rhetoric and drum banging but little else.

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