Childhood Obesity: States to Intervene?
Friday, July 29, 2011 at 9:12AM The topic of obesity has surfaced quite a bit in the news these past few weeks. Two weeks ago, an editorial in the Journal of the American Medical Association caught my attention. It spoke of a recent move by California, Indiana, Iowa, New Mexico, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas to place severely obese children in state-sponsored protective custody. Supporters of the idea compared the harmful and life-threatening effects of childhood obesity to those of failure-to-thrive and undernourishment— the latter two long-understood by the legal community to stand for child abuse and neglect. They argued the move, while it can result in heavy emotional tolls for the families involved, may be better than the physical risks associated with the only other known fix— adolescent bariatric surgery. They also pointed to the irreversibility of bariatric surgery, whereas families may eventually be reunited should education and life-style changes prove successful.
As if in support of this controversial topic, the report “F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010,” was published a week later by the Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. It announced that every state in America has an obesity rate greater than 20% (except one… Colorado). In 1991, according to the same survey, no state registered that high. Disparities exist between races (Blacks and Latinos outnumber Whites in 40 states), regions of the country (10 of the 11 highest-ranking states were in the South), and income (those making less than $15,000 per year outnumber those making over $50,000).[1]
The report also acknowledged the 2007 National Survey of Children’s Health that concluded that there are over 12 million obese children aged 10-17.[2] The most recent National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, from 2003-2006, reported that over 30% of children aged 6-19 are overweight or obese.[3] Together, these studies point to roughly one in three children in need of help in this country.
Also last week, ironically, the Center for Science in the Public Interest-- a non-profit organization that advocates for nutrition awareness and education— posted the 2011 Xtreme Eating Awards. Offenders included: IHOP’s bacon-infused burger, serving up two days’ worth of saturated fat and a full day’s worth of sodium; Denny’s fried-cheese… melt, loaded with only one day’s worth of saturated fat, but a full two days’ worth of sodium; and for dessert Cheesecake Factory’s red velvet cheesecake comes with three days’ worth of saturated fat (which, the award judges tell us, is as much as an entire carton of Breyer’s ice cream).[4] And we wonder why we have such an epidemic on our hands?
For all of these reasons and more, First Lady Michele Obama-- as a part of her “Let’s Move” initiative to fight childhood obesity-- announced late last week that she is working to bring fresh fruits and vegetables to “food deserts” (poor communities without access to fresh produce). Wal-Mart announced it is opening 300 new stores by 2016 to bring affordable fresh produce to these food deserts as well.[5]
As obesity is one of the nation’s leading causes of preventable death, is on the rise, and results in over $150 billion in healthcare costs every year, [6] and as children appear to be its innocent victims, increasingly raised in environments which encourage overeating and poor nutrition, it is time the country takes firmer action.
But I wonder about this idea of separating severely obese children from their families. How will states address the fact that, according to the statistics, most of these children will come from poor minorities? Doesn’t that look more-than-a-bit like discrimination? And how will the states attempt to ensure that pulling them from their current obesigenic environments will necessarily result in better, less harmful environments? Let’s look at the seven states that have already taken steps in this direction. What have been their results so far? Has what they have done improved the health of any of the children? And what have been their obstacles, ethical dilemmas, unforeseen controversies, and public reactions? It is a topic worth discussion, but I have to wonder if the benefits to this approach truly can outweigh the potential harms.
[1] Levi J, Vinter S, St. Laurent R, Segal L. F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010. Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. June 2010.
[2] Levi J, Vinter S, St. Laurent R, Segal L. F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010. Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. June 2010.
[3] National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2003-2006.
[4] Hurley J, Liebman B. Xtreme Eating 2011. Center for Science in the Public Interest. July/August 2011.
[5] Hernandez D. Michele Obama, Wal-Mart, and the ‘food desert’ problem. Los Angeles Times. Friday, July 22, 2011.
[6] Levi J, Vinter S, St. Laurent R, Segal L. F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future 2010. Trust for America’s Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. June 2010.
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I think the state should not intervene that much about childhood obesity that may lead to weight problems. If they were to intervene it would be best that they conduct seminars concerning health issues and make a program to bring those kids to a healthier path. Don’t you think so?
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Its really great steps from michele obama & Wal mart.Poor people really dont get access to the fresh fruit or vegetables.
This decisions will certainly help them.Thanks for sharing this news here.
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