Obesity Threatens to Shorten Lifespan of Today's American Children

Today's American children could be the first generation in modern history to live shorter lives than their parents, and it's all because of obesity that results from poor diets, according to a Yale University professor.

"The food and physical activity environments we offer our children is a recipe for obesity, and much human suffering will be the result," said author Kelly Brownell, whose book "Food Fight" will be published in September.

The nation, Brownell said, must first acknowledge the serious problems caused by poor diet and resist the argument that people are doing this to themselves.

"Personal responsibility is important, but sometimes our personal resources are overwhelmed by a toxic environment and society steps in to protect people, especially children," Brownell said. "We have a long history as a nation of taking steps like requiring seat belts, keeping tobacco companies from our children and more."

Brownell, director of the Yale Center for Eating and Weight Disorders, recommends the following to help stem the obesity crisis

• Prohibit food advertising aimed at children or at least give equal time for promotion of healthy eating and activity;\
• Rid schools of soft drinks, snack foods and fast food;
• Use school cafeterias as learning laboratories;
• Alter national programs such as Food Stamps, Head Start and the National School Lunch Program to help in the fight against obesity and poor diet,
• Use celebrities and major children's media companies like Nickelodeon and Disney to promote healthy foods.

Brownell also advocates a tax on unhealthy foods that would be used to subsidize the sale of healthy foods; create a fund to develop mass media promotions for healthy eating; and offset the lost revenue suffered by schools that stop selling soft drinks and snack food.

Other sources: Yale University