On March 2, the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce, and Infrastructure heard testimony on the health and economic consequences posed by increased obesity rates among children.
In his opening statement, Chair Gordon Smith (R-OR) noted that the obesity rate among Americans has doubled since 1980, costing the federal government $117 billion annually to treat associated illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.
U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona said that one-third of children born in 2000 will develop Type 2 diabetes, putting them at an increased risk of developing heart disease, stroke, kidney, disease, and blindness. He stated, “Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents.” Dr. Carmona argued that the only way to combat obesity is to improve the “health literacy” of consumers and highlighted a number of steps the Bush administration has taken to combat obesity, including the HealthierUS initiative. He also noted that the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) would be revising the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and releasing a new Food Guide Pyramid in 2005. Pointing out that the average American child spends four hours a day looking at some kind of screen, Dr. Carmona pleaded, “Parents, make the healthy choices: turn off the TV and the video games, go outside with your kids, play ball, go for a walk. Talk with your kids, spend quality time with them, and when you’re together as a family, do something active.”
Testifying on behalf of the Grocery Manufacturers of America, Manley Molpus described the association’s efforts to encourage better nutrition and combat obesity, but stressed one main point throughout his testimony: “The ultimate decision-makers are the consumers themselves.”
Victoria Rideout of the Kaiser Family Foundation summarized a new report entitled, “The Role of Media in Childhood Obesity.” According to the report, research indicates that children who spend more time with media are significantly more likely to be overweight than other children. The report also found that research does not support the hypothesis that media contributes to childhood obesity because it displaces physical activity. Ms. Rideout explained that many children replace physical activity with reading or talking on the telephone. She stated, “What the research suggests instead is that it may well be children’s exposure to food advertising that is behind the link between media use and obesity.” Ms. Rideout laid out a number of policy suggestions for Congress that include reducing the time children spend with media, reducing children’s exposure to food advertising, and supporting positive media campaigns.
Robert Liodice of the Association of National Advertisers disagreed with the Kaiser Family Foundation’s findings. He stated, “Clearly, while there is a need for more research in this area, the Kaiser report cannot be a legitimate basis for any definitive policy decisions on advertising issues by Congress. The First Amendment requires far more than ‘appears likely’ or ‘may well be’ to justify any ban or restriction on food advertising.” Mr. Liodice pointed out that a ban on advertising during children’s programming would make it more costly for the broadcasters to provide the programming. “Parents need to be parents and the government cannot replace their responsibility by censoring advertising,” he argued.
Margo Wootan of the Center for Science in the Public Interest focused her comments on parents’ limitations in deciding what their children eat, including in schools and at restaurants. She encouraged Congress to give the USDA authority to implement nutrition standards for food served in the National School Lunch and Breakfast Programs and in school vending machines. She also noted that children “eat almost twice as many calories when they eat a meal at a restaurant compared to at home,” and encouraged Congress to support legislation that would require calorie and nutrition labeling at fast food and chain restaurants.
Noting, “seventy-six percent of all meals are still eaten in the home not in restaurants,” Lee Culpepper of the National Restaurant Association explained that many restaurants allow parents to customize orders for their children, such as substituting vegetables for fries in a kid’s meal. He argued that education is the best way to combat obesity. “Educating people on the importance of putting together a healthy lifestyle one built on balance, moderation and exercise and providing them with accurate information is crucial. Likewise, it is important for parents to educate their children about a healthy lifestyle, and to take an active role in achieving it,” he stated.
