Opinions on trending debates about Childhood Obesity

 

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Fight against childhood obesity remains ‘an uphill battle’

Overall, it seems childhood obesity is receiving much more attention, and health care professionals are in agreement that obesity campaigns – such as the Let’s Move initiative – have helped raise awareness of the issue.

Some US states have even seen a reduction in rates of childhood obesity. A report from the CDC revealed that between 2008-11, Florida, Georgia, Missouri, New Jersey, South Dakota, and the US Virgin Islands showed a minimum decrease of 1% in their childhood obesity rates.

 

Source of photo: The local

But although such figures show we are heading in the right direction, Staino told us there is still a lot more work to be done.

“Childhood obesity remains at a historical high,” she said. “These declines are still within the margin of error, and it is important to continue following trends to see if the trends plateau or continue to go up.”

“We are certainly making some progress,” added Dr. Perrin, “but given the abundance of marketing to children of unhealthy foods, the lack of easy ways to incorporate healthy activity into children’s usual days, and the simultaneous unfairness of obesity stigma, it’s an uphill battle.”

 

But it seems Michelle Obama, for one, is not giving up the fight anytime soon:

"In the end, this isn't just a policy problem for me as First Lady. It's my passion. This is my goal. I'm motivated to collaborate with people all throughout the nation to transform the way a new generation of children views food and nutrition".