December 10, 2007

County Report

Combating childhood obesity at the local level

By County Supervisor Ken Yeager
Special to the Times

Newspapers and evening news broadcasts constantly remind parents that childhood obesity is reaching epidemic proportions. Despite this, statistics and research shows that many parents struggle to practice healthy lifestyles with their children.

Although information about the medical problems related to obesity is everywhere, parents face a daunting challenge when trying to change behavior. Cartoon characters wave at children from cereal boxes filled with sugar and fat, convenience stores offer few or no healthy eating options and low-income areas are crowded with fast-food restaurants.

One thing is clear: Just as with the environment and climate change, solving a problem as massive in scope as childhood obesity can’t be accomplished in small, timid steps. Government, the private sector and schools must do more if substantial change is to occur.

In partnership with First 5 Santa Clara County, I invited local elected officials to join me for an October meeting to brainstorm ways to prevent obesity in children and adults. More than a dozen leaders from throughout the county attended the meeting or sent representatives. For two hours, we discussed health in our communities and suggested ways to work with parents and consumers.

When it comes to children from birth to 5 years of age, there are promising strategies to prevent obesity. These include increasing breastfeeding, improving feeding and eating practices for young children, and reducing television watching and marketing of unhealthy foods to children.

Fast food, high calories
Much more can be done, particularly when it comes to adults. One of the worst culprits is the fast-food industry. When a burger, fries, and soft drink or shake can total half to three-quarters of a typical adult’s daily 2,000-calorie intake, it is obvious that part of the solution lies with more regulation of fast-food restaurants.

Subway Restaurants should be commended for going against industry trends and posting the calories and nutritional information of their meals on their napkins and counters, not hidden and unread in binders. New York City has taken the lead in passing laws that require chain restaurants to post on their menus the calories of their food. Requiring the posting of such information was one alternative that elected officials discussed at our meeting.

Why is this important? Surveys show that most Americans underestimate by almost half the amount of calories contained in food. If adults are clueless, what chance do kids or adolescents have?

Another problem for children and adults is the over-concentration of fast-food restaurants, particularly in low-income areas. In one Los Angeles neighborhood, about 20 fast-food restaurants are packed onto a quarter-mile stretch of road. The city of Los Angeles is considering a moratorium on fast-food restaurants in such neighborhoods, which is another option local governments can consider in their efforts to keep residents healthy.

One reason that fast foods are so cheap is that the industry does not have to pay for the health problems associated with eating high-calorie, low-nutritional foods. Obesity fuels a host of severe health problems such as diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, heart disease and strokes, all of which skyrocket government and employer health care costs, diminish productivity, and increase workers’ compensation.

In fact, a recent study by doctor and author David Chenoweth found that there would be more than $1 billion per year savings due to decreased health care costs and increased employee productivity in California if just 5 to 10 percent of Californians who were overweight became healthier.

Multiple solutions
Local governments can do more by incorporating healthy habits in their land use planning, in much the same way as they incorporate environmental concerns into account. General plans often ensure that neighborhoods include places where families can be active, such as parks and trails. They need to go further and insist on more outlets that sell healthy foods and discourage fast-food restaurants that sell only high-calorie meals. Farmers’ markets need to be supported, along with protecting agriculture and promoting locally grown produce.

Schools need to do more. A bill by California state Sen. Elaine Alquist and signed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has finally banned trans fats from school cafeterias. This is great news, but why did it take a new state law to protect the health of kids when schools have known about the ill effects of trans fats for years? Schools must serve more nutritious foods, like fresh fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Exercise needs to be part of every school program.

Parents and residents do not need to wait for government to take action. Just as with saving the environment, we can use our voices and pocketbooks to make a difference. If enough consumers complain, grocery and convenience stores will eventually carry more healthy options. If stores don’t cooperate, then I hope we return to the days of economic boycotts to show that parents are serious in demanding that their kids have access to healthy foods.

Local leaders have a responsibility to protect our communities. Traditionally, this has encompassed irresponsible land use planning, public safety, and schools. It is time for elected leaders to add healthy eating and exercise. The gathering of elected officials with First 5 Santa Clara County was the first step in that direction. For the sake of our kids, we must quicken the pace if we are to save a whole generation from a fate of ill health.