Child obesity: public health meets the global economy
Thursday, January 1 2004
To curb childhood obesity, movements for improving diet need to be allied to those for sustainable food production, argues Dr Tim Lobstein
ABSTRACT
Child obesity has become a hot topic for policy-makers. There is no successful medical treatment, and attempts to exhort children to eat more healthily or exercise more are failing. Political action is needed to reshape our food supplies, transport policies and leisure industries, but this may upset corporate interests in food, agriculture, cars, petrol, road building, entertainment and advertising. The consumer movement needs to seek alliances linking public health interests with campaigners for sustainable environments.
Child obesity raises issues beyond the medical consequences for the child, and beyond the problems of healthy diets and plenty of exercise. Child obesity challenges the role of the state and its control over multinational corporations, and puts consumer groups at the heart of the defence of public health.