White House Task Force Seeks Fight on Childhood Obesity (Use of FCC over food commercials)

cbsnews ^ | Tuesday May 11, 2010

[Bigtigermike]

A White House report warns, "The childhood obesity epidemic in America is a national health crisis."

The review by the Task Force on Childhood Obesity says one out of every three children is overweight or obese. The task force is a key part of First Lady Michelle Obama's campaign to solve the problem of obesity within a generation. President Obama ordered the comprehensive review of the issue.

The report includes familiar themes, emphasizing the importance of improved nutrition and physical activity.

It also calls for some new and dramatic controls on the marketing of unhealthy foods.

The task force wants junk food makers and marketers to go on what amounts to an advertising diet. It says media characters that are often popular with kids should only be used to promote healthy products. If voluntary efforts fail to limit marketing of less healthy products to young viewers, the task force suggests the FCC should consider new rules on commercials in children's programming. It also challenges food retailers to stop using in-store displays to sell unhealthy food items to children.

The advisory panel proposes better food content labeling on products and vending machines. Restaurants and vending machine companies are urged to display calorie counts. The experts say the FDA and USDA should cooperate with the food and beverage industries to develop a standard system of nutrition labeling on the front of packages. The study also suggests that restaurants should re-evaluate portion sizes, improve kids' menus and list more healthy food choices.

[rarestia]

It’s a freaking lifestyle issue! This has NOTHING to do with food. When parents are busy all day and stopping for junk on the way home because they don’t want to cook; and when grocery prices are so high that junk food is a cheaper alternative; and when video games and TV consume the free time of our youth... OF COURSE we’re going to have a problem!

[silverleaf]

michelle obama- the angry irrelevant obama

looking to extablish herself by sucking the joy out of life for more people

I think I need a twinkie. and maybe some froot loops.

[Gay State Conservative]

In my day kids weren't fat.But then in those days there were no video games....computers....microwaves....and there were only three TV stations....(6 if you lived near a big city).

[TexasCajun]

Big Brother thinks we are too stupid to think for ourselves.

Typical liberal BS.

[silverleaf]

who is “we”?

I look around the elementary school playgound here and see maybe a dozen fat kids, and they are all welfare kids

In my DD’s private school- maybe half a dozen fat kids out of hundreds

if the wookie wants to ban sugar foods from the food stamp list-then go for it girl.

[dartuser]

It also challenges food retailers to stop using in-store displays to sell unhealthy food items to children.

Yes, when my kid sees one of those displays he demands to have that food ... and since I dont want to cause a scene in the store ... I give him what he wants. /sarc

There should have to be an IQ test to be a parent.

[Personal Responsibility]

Spot on. Combine that with the lack of activity when compared to a generation or two ago with XBOX’s, PS3, Nintendo DS’s etc...and it’s perfect recipie for this kind of crisis.

Of course the liberals will try to address it the exact wrong way but that’s not surprising. They are liberals after all.

[rarestia]

They’re looking at it as an opportunity to regulate, not an opportunity to promote health and wellness. We, as a nation, should be outside more than we are, and I blame that a lot on the urban/suburban lifestyles we live.

[libertarian27]

In a proposal that's sure to be popular with children, the panel says schools should promote recess for younger students and "physical activity breaks" for upper level grades.

Wait a minute...aren't these same 'save the childrun' government types the ones who slashed recess and physical activity in schools?

[justsaynomore]

It amazes me how many parents don’t set limits for their kids. We actually own a fast food franchise, but my kids are both slightly under the national average for weight. One because we limit how often we eat there (once a week at the most). Two, my kids have a time limit of 30 minutes per day of video games and 30 for TV. Then I kick them out of the house and make them play outside.

At their last checkup a few weeks back the pediatrician was concerned at my boys’ scraches, little bruises, mosquito bites, scars and strawberries. I told him that is what a kid looks like that plays outside several hours a day. He climbs trees, wrestles, plays football, runs, swims etc. (guess the doc’s not used to seeing that LOL)

[beericus]

I must be really stupid, I just didn’t see the word PARENT anywhere in that article.

[apillar]

This “epidemic” is simply an excuse to appoint a bunch of eggheads with nothing to do to various panels. Hire a bunch of new overpaid, under-worked federal employees to monitor the “epidemic”. Spend billions of dollars and pass dozens of onerous laws trying to defeat the “epidemic”. While they're at it I wonder if anybody has bothered to check the Constitution to see just where it gives the government the authority to determine which individual or their children is obese and waste federal money fighting it. I must have missed that part in my last read through.

[Repeat Offender]

I must be really stupid, I just didn’t see the word PARENT anywhere in that article.

That's because the PARENTS hired a Nanny........ her name is Task Force on Childhood Obesity

[jetson]

Anyone notice all the fat mexican kids and women around? Life must be good.

[beericus]

I have been posting childhood obesity trends on my forum for a couple months. The best one was how childhood obesity is a precursor to a ban on guns in some cities. UN-FARKING-BELIEVABLE...........

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Let us see! These clowns have taken over the financial sector, the health sector, insurance, automotive industry and now control of our food is in their sights. Is anybody worried?????????????

[greatplains]

Hey, Froot Loops now has added fiber - you’re eating health food! ;)

[Tzimisce]

Clamping down on free speech/free expression is what tyrants do.

[Vaduz]

The task force wants junk food makers and marketers to go on what amounts to an advertising limits. Chavez gives the Obama’s a nod your learning keep the move slow but keep it going.