Confronting Childhood Obesity

• Published date: 01 January 2008
• Author: Sam Brownback
• Date: 01 January 2008
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716207308894
• Subject Matter: Articles

ANNALS, AAPSS, 615, January 2008 219

Keywords: childhood overweight; childhood obesity;

diabetes; public policy; media

As a nation, we must confront the epidemic

increase in childhood obesity rates. As we

seek innovative ways to protect the health and

vitality of our young people, we usher in a new,

and much-needed, era of cooperation between

consumers, industry, health advocacy organiza-

tions, and media companies.

For several years, research has indicated that

childhood obesity is on the verge of becoming

an epidemic. In the last thirty years, the rate of

overweight and obese children has risen to 16

percent, which is a 300 percent increase. The

U.S. Surgeon General has identified being

overweight and obese as one of the fastest

growing causes of disease and death in America.

Perhaps even more alarming, a recent study

shows that, for the first time in modern history,

the life expectancy of younger generations may

decrease by as much as five years due to exces-

sive weight.

In 2007, the Institute of Medicine (IOM)

issued nutrition standards for foods in schools

(see http://www.iom.edu/CMS/3788/30181/42502

.aspx). Congress directed the Centers for

Disease Control, in partnership with the IOM,

Confronting

Childhood

Obesity

By

SENATOR SAM

BROWNBACK

Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS) has been a radio

broadcaster, attorney, teacher, and administrator. He was

elected to the House of Representatives in 1994. In 1996,

he was elected to the U.S. Senate seat held by Bob Dole.

In the U.S. Senate, he serves on the Appropriations,

Judiciary, and Joint Economic Committees. He is the

Ranking Member on the Joint Economic Committee,

the Financial Services and General Government

Appropriations Subcommittee, as well as the subcom-

mittee responsible for the Constitution. He also

cochairs the FCC Task Force on Media and Childhood

Obesity with Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA), cochairs the

Senate Cancer Coalition and the Human Rights

Caucus, chairs the Senate Values Action Team, and is a

founding member of the Senate Fiscal Watch Team.

DOI: 10.1177/0002716207308894