Childhood obesity: the new tobacco.
Overcoming the childhood obesity epidemic will require changes on the scale of a social movement similar to the shift in attitudes and regulations toward smoking and tobacco. Tobacco control became a successful public health movement because of shifts in social norms and because cigarette companies came to be perceived by many as a common enemy. In contrast, obesity advocates have not identified a common threat or mobilized grass-roots change, nor have they identified strategies that resonate across diverse settings and constituencies. Framing obesity as a common threat can lead to consensus regarding the interventions needed to achieve healthier children and communities.
Klein
Jonathan D
JD
Julius B. Richmond Center of Excellence, American Academy of Pediatrics, Elk Grove Village, Illinois, USA. jklein@aap.org
Dietz
William
W
D000293:Adolescent; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002651:Child Advocacy; D005515:Food Labeling / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D005518:Food Preferences; D005522:Food Services / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006077:Government Agencies; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006291:Health Policy / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D006801:Humans; D040541:Marketing / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence; D009519:New York City; D009765:Obesity / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012907:Smoking / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D000074606:Smoking Prevention; D013660:Taxes