Public policy to prevent childhood obesity, and the role of pediatric endocrinologists.
Childhood overweight and obesity prevalence rates in the United States are steadily increasing. Public health experts consider a host of overarching and powerful influences beyond any one person's control to be the pivotal causes of childhood obesity. Consequently, it is more useful from a prevention and policy standpoint to examine the increasingly 'toxic environments' in which we live, consider a comprehensive strategy, and introduce, implement, and enforce public health policy to change those environments. In this paper we give an overview of different types of public policies that have been proposed as pieces of the complex solution to the growing problem of childhood obesity. We review some of the strategies needed, and the barriers to overcome, in order to pass effective policy, and discuss the important role pediatric endocrinologists can play in the fight to win effective policy campaigns to reverse the epidemic of childhood obesity.
Friedman
Roberta R
RR
Yale University, Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, New Haven, CT 06520-8369, USA. Roberta.friedman@yale.edu
Schwartz
Marlene B
MB
D017668:Age of Onset; D002648:Child; D002664:Child Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D003144:Communication Barriers; D004704:Endocrinology / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D009765:Obesity / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D010806:Physical Education and Training / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D010819:Physician's Role; D011634:Public Health / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D012572:School Health Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000639:trends; D012931:Social Environment