Today, First Lady Michelle Obama will formally announce a campaign to end childhood obesity. In one generation. This lofty goal is very much in need, as over one third of American children are overweight or obese. Mrs. Obama wants the program to focus on nutrition education for parents and kids, more exercise, and improved school lunches.

As we recently wrote, this campaign has slim chances of success. The reason is simple – it is far more profitable for America to “fix” obesity related ailments than to prevent them. The industries that stand to lose if obesity goes away are fast food establishments, junk food manufacturers, beverage manufacturers, health care, weight loss, and supplements.

Additionally, the underlying incentive system that has made junk food so cheap needs to be revamped. But the farm subsidies for corn, soy, and wheat will not be disappearing anytime soon. That’s because the USDA holds two ends of the stick – taking care of big Agriculture corporations while at the same time taking care of little kids. Who do you think pays better?

Sorry for the pessimism, and we hope to be proven wrong. But this initiative is like a tooth whitening service when a root canal is due.

What to do at the supermarket:

There is good news for individuals who want to change things for their family. Actually, with a few small changes, you can start improving your children’s diets. The clearest cut, though not always easiest, is the switch to drinking water instead of sugary drinks. In case you’re wondering, juice is a sugary drink.

Read nutrition labels and note the serving sizes. Many times the actual serving size is much larger than the one written on the box. This will help you calculate the real number of calories you and your kids will consume.

And offer more fruits and vegetables to your children. As Michelle Obama says “Sneak a few grapes in for breakfast, pack an apple for lunch, and make sure that they actually ate it.”

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First Lady Michelle Obama has a legacy she wants to leave behind: drastically reducing childhood obesity. Yesterday at a Mayors Conference in Washington DC,  she announced a new initiative in this spirit, to be formally announced in February.

After presenting the dismal stats (around 18% of kids are obese), Mrs. Obama outlined what is to be a joint effort at the federal, municipal, and non-profit levels.

“The idea here is very simple: to put in place commonsense, innovative solutions that empower families and communities to make healthy decisions for their kids.”

The main points:

• improved school lunches
• more physical activity (including school phys-ed cut due to budget constraints)
• access to fresh and healthy foods in all communities (nutrition deserts are all too common in poor urban areas)
• nutrition education for kids and their parents.

This is a great plan, and Mrs Obama deserves kudos for bringing childhood obesity to our collective attention. No doubt her status as the nation’s number one mom, with personal experiences and challenges in feeding her family, make her one of the best champions for the cause.

However…

I’m sorry, First Lady, your plan, while commendable, doesn’t have a fighting chance.

Here’s why: Read more…

Obesity rates increased in half the US states in the past year. They did not decrease in any state. This despite the growing awareness of the public, healthcare professionals, and government officials.

In an annual report by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, aptly titled F as in Fat,  a horrific picture of a country eating itself to death emerges.

In 31 states, obesity rates exceed 25 percent. Childhood obesity is at an alltime high. In 30 states, more than 30% of children are either overweight or obese.

What you need to know:

The report goes on to describe the various measures being carried out by federal and state bodies, such as school lunch nutrition standards, weight screening, community activities to raise awareness, and more.

But can all these efforts put even a small dent in the source of all our woes – TOO MUCH (BAD) FOOD IS IN THE SYSTEM!

At the end of the day, it all comes down to money. How can government’s puny budgets (counted in millions of dollars), match up to Billions of dollars in advertising by the major food corporations. How can people stay slim if everywhere they go, junky food is conveniently shoved in their face. At work, at the bookstore, at school, the gas station, the mall, the deli at the supermarket, the movies, the ballpark, the Starbucks counter at the supermarket, and even at the fitness center. Not to mention fast food establishments conveniently located at every corner.

Big food will claim that it’s a matter of personal responsibility, but do individuals really have as much power as we think we do? Our whole way of life revolves around convenience, time saving inventions (TV Dinners, anyone?), and companies making more dollars for their investors. Even if it kills us along the way.

We need to take a long, deep look at how the system got to be broken and make some real changes, before it gets too late. The current measures, as well as proposals presented at the end of the report are comparable to using a flyswatter to stop an oncoming buffalo herd.

Right now, its still every consumer for themselves against the might of a well oiled industry.

What to do at the supermarket:

The choices you make in the supermarket ultimately effect your health, your family’s health, and the results of next year’s survey.

Choose foods that are less processed.  Fruits and vegetables, fresh and frozen. Whole grains. Less sugary snacks. Lean meat and milk products. More fruits and vegetables. Cut down drastically on soft drink purchases (switching to tap water will save a family of four $500 a year). Did we mention vegetables and fruits?

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