PFCD Commends White House for Comprehensive Childhood Obesity Efforts
May 12, 2010 (Washington, DC) - The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease issued praise today to First Lady Michelle Obama and the Childhood Obesity Task Force for the release of their report, “Solving the Problem of Childhood Obesity Within a Generation.” The report included a total of 70 recommendations for reducing the rate of childhood obesity from 17 percent to 5 percent by 2030.
"This report takes a comprehensive, holistic view of childhood health, and showcases the importance of prevention through healthy living starting at an early age," said Ken Thorpe, Ph.D., PFCD Executive Director. "The report’s recommendations for reducing the rates of childhood obesity track closely to those of the PFCD, which include increased access to primary care physicians, the integration of nutrition and physical activity planning and weight management into routine physical exams and health insurance coverage of services necessary to prevent, assess, and provide care to overweight and obese children."
Among the recommendations for federal action are:
- Encourage school districts to create, post, and implement a strong local school wellness policy
- Promote good nutrition through after school programs
- Promote healthy behaviors in juvenile correctional and related facilities
- Increase support for after school programs, which offer and enhance physical activity opportunities in their programs
- Increase the number of safe and accessible parks and playgrounds, particularly in underserved and low-income communities
- Disseminate national dietary guidelines through accessible channels
- Implement a standard system of nutrition labeling for the front of food packages
- Update Federal nutritional standards for school meals and improve the nutritional quality of USDA commodities provided to schools
- Increase resources for school meals
- Increase the availability and consistency of nutrition education in schools
Thorpe encouraged Congress and the Obama Administration to build upon these comprehensive recommendations with clear and swift legislative action.
"The health of our children is just about the most important component of ensuring a bright future for this country," said Thorpe. "Now is the time to turn words into action and implement policy to fulfill this critical need."
The PFCD recently provided suggestions to the White House’s Childhood Obesity Task Force regarding ways to solve the challenge of childhood obesity in the Nation within a generation. A copy of the PFCD’s submitted comments can be found here.
About the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease:
The Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease (PFCD) is a national coalition of patients, providers, community organizations, business and labor groups, and health policy experts committed to raising awareness of the number one cause of death, disability, and rising health care costs in the U.S.: chronic disease.
For more information about the PFCD and its partner organizations, please visit: www.fightchronicdisease.org.
