Obesity

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CURRENT NEWS ABOUT YOUR TOPIC
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=Eating Disorders=

INTEREST GROUPS
// Organizations advocating for government action to reduce childhood obesity // • American Public Health Association - http://www.apha.org/ with a specific link about public policy choices here: http://www.apha.org/membergroups/newsletters/sectionnewsletters/food/spring07/cspiobesity.htm • Improve School Foods - http://www.schoolfoods.org/ • Food Research Action Center http://frac.org/ and specific initiatives about childhood obesity: http://frac.org/initiatives/hunger-and-obesity/ • Obesity Action Coalition - http://www.obesityaction.org/aboutobesity/childhoodobesity/childhood.php
 * You are welcome to look for other groups - this list may help you get started. **

// Organizations that do not think government should take strong action to reduce childhood obesity // • CATO Institute - http://www.cato.org/. Specific article about childhood obesity and San Francisco's recent ban on toys in fast food meals: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=12541. Specific article about tax on sodas: http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=11955 • [|Center for Consumer Freedom] - look for links on the left about obesity

__EXERCISE in SCHOOLS__ • http://sitemaker.umich.edu/356.speregen/physical_education_and_school_performance (see 4th and 5th paragraphs) • http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/06/02/states-requiring-physical-education-schools-set-specific/ • American Heart Association - http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Advocate/IssuesandCampaigns/Obesity-Nutrition-and-Physical-Activity-Healthy-People-Healthy-Lifestyles_UCM_307737_Article.jsp#.TueqFeCcYsY • http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/trends.html (maps of where obesity is highest and how it has changed over time)
 * HELPFUL RESOURCES**

•AMA on obesity-related laws • PRO/CON - website with information about both sides of the obesity debate - http://obesity.procon.org/ • Experts share views on New York Times blog: http://roomfordebate.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/better-ways-to-help-the-public-lose-weight/ • Recent legislation passed in the US Senate: http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=s111-3307. For more on the bill, click here: http://www.elev8kids.org/news-and-announcements/healthy-hunger-free-kids-act. This bill has not yet been passed in the House of Representatives (http://www.govtrack.us/congress/bill.xpd?bill=h111-5504), so it has **not yet** become law.

**School Nutrition Guidelines** Washington Post report on recent Congressional action - beyond the headlines - [|pizza as a vegetable] National School Lunch Program - lots of information - http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/lunch/ Federal government tightens nutrition standards - CNN Jan 2011 - http://www.cnn.com/2011/HEALTH/01/13/school.nutrition/index.html Senator Collins saves potato in school lunches - http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/us/politics/potatoes-get-senate-protection-on-school-lunch-menus.html

Really helpful data here on obesity trends for young people - http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm
 * STATISTICS/PUBLIC OPINION POLLS**

November 2010 public opinion poll (you may have to make the charts after reading data in report): http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/general_lifestyle/november_2010/americans_overwhelmingly_see_childhood_obesity_as_serious_problem

This report compares public opinion polls in US and Europe on whether the government should do more to respond to childhood obesity - http://www.cspinet.org/new/200804022.html and report:

[|Obesity Litigation (Lawsuits) in America] - overview article (also discusses the //Pelman v. McDonald's// case - scroll down) [|The McLawsuit: Fast Food Industry and Legal Accountability for Obesity]
 * JUDICIAL BRANCH**

• President Obama signs the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act - http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2010/12/13/president-obama-signs-healthy-hunger-free-kids-act-2010-law • Idea to tax soda - http://voices.washingtonpost.com/all-we-can-eat/food-politics/usda-says-soda-tax-would-cut-o.html and government study -
 * LEGISLATIVE BRANCH**

• Urges federal government to pass the Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act - http://blog.feedingamerica.org/2010/11/congress-must-pass-the-healthy-hunger-free-kids-act-now/ • Education Secretary and Agriculture Secretary urge Congress to pass legislation to improve school meals - excellent summary of what is included in the legislation: http://www.ed.gov/news/press-releases/education-secretary-duncan-and-agriculture-secretary-vilsack-urge-congress-pass-

http://www.statehealthfacts.org/comparemaptable.jsp?ind=52&cat=2&sub=14&yr=92&typ=5&rgnhl=21