Food Politics

[...] The food industry and childhood obesity By Marion David Ludwig, author of Ending the Food Fight, has just been published in the October 15 JAMA (the Journal of the American Medical Association). Here?s the title: Can the food industry play a constructive role in the obesity epidemic? … What to Eat – http://whattoeatbook.com [...]

If the government would end subsidies of corn, wheat, etc., and flip it so that fruits, vegetables, cost $1.00 and garbage like Coca Cola costs $4.00 (I love Naked Juice but it costs $4.00, whereas I can buy a Coke for $1.50 – that’s crazy!). Michael Pollan wrote a great article int he past NYT Sunday Magazine addressing the politics of food – http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/12/magazine/12policy-t.html?em

Make it so that the good stuff costs less than the junk and that would be a great start to helping to curtail the medical problems of today

Teaching people why and how to eat better are great things. Showing them what to buy and how to prepare things are even better. These are necessary and very important to do, but in addition to this we have much room for possibility in regards to changes in any policies or laws that relate to food.
Jeff is right: match the funding with the education. We know that eating a diet full of whole grains, vegetables and fruits, especially in a minimally or non-processed form is the best way for health. Let’s start supporting Organic farmers who producing foods directly meant for human consumption, not to be made into soda or animal feed. Let’s turn it around!

I agree with Jeff about corn subsidies. But also I wonder…what about taking certain size portions off of menus?? No one needs a biggie size fries or an extra large Dunkin Donuts. It has made gigantic portions seem normal, and that learning carries through to everyone just wanting bigger, bigger, more, more, never enough food!!

Thank you for putting your article online.

The irreconcilable conflict …
Well said!

Of course the food industry COULD play a constructive role in changing the childhood obesity problem, but the question is WHY DON’T they play such a role?

Playing a role in the fight against childhood obesity, to the food industry, always entails a marketing/selling component. As you say so concisely in the article, this will always be a part of these efforts under our market-driven economy.

Hence, the prime time Olympic ad showing the a kids soccer match, subsequent winning team celebrating/losing team sad faced turned into losing team celebrating/winning team sad faced as the lMcD’s Happy Meals are handed out to the losing team. Ugh. I’m sure said company chalks that one up to supporting kids’ fitness because is showed soccer and aired during the Olympics.

To bring down childhood obesity rates we all need to do more than find medical quick fixes. The problem requires a change in the way society acts and feels and these changes will not happen overnight; being patient and acting wisely are keys to improving childhood obesity rates. Successful prevention and treatment of childhood obesity is essential for good health throughout life.
Food industry should see good stuff costs less than the junk foods, this will help to control obesity. Visit this link for information on obesity know more, click here

[...] Voiland of U.S. News and World Report interviewed David Ludwig and me for this story based on our recent JAMA article.  He’s packed a lot of information into these 10 categories, which start with #1, the [...]

[...] U.S. News and World Report interviewed David Ludwig and me [Marion Nestle] for this story based on our recent JAMA article.  He’s packed a lot of information into these 10 categories, which start with #1, the billions [...]