Mobilizing to Defeat the Childhood Obesity Epidemic

• Date: 01 January 2008
• Author: Tom Harkin
• Published date: 01 January 2008
• DOI: 10.1177/0002716207308840
• Subject Matter: Articles

216 ANNALS, AAPSS, 615, January 2008

Keywords: childhood obesity; public policy; research

Currently, the United States is confronted

with a public health crisis of the first order.

Nearly 15 percent of American children and

teenagers are obese. Most parents do not look

at their seven-year-old child and see a candi-

date for heart disease, diabetes, or cancer later

in life. However, a quarter of children between

the ages of five and ten already show the early-

warning signs of heart disease. It is of great

concern when experts state that today’s chil-

dren could be the first generation in American

history to have a shorter lifespan than their par-

ent’s generation. However, it is also of great

concern to me that we do not have a clear

understanding on the course to tackle and pre-

vent childhood overweight and obesity. To

address these challenges, I commend the

authors in this special issue on childhood over-

weight in The Annals of the American Academy

of Political and Social Science, who are examin-

ing the many contributing factors that can lead

to overweight or obesity among children.

Children are facing an upward battle as sev-

eral factors converge to increase their odds of

becoming overweight or obese. The average

child encounters junk-food vending machines at

Mobilizing to

Defeat the

Childhood

Obesity

Epidemic

By

SENATOR TOM HARKIN

Since first being elected to the U.S. Congress in 1974

and later to the U.S. Senate in 1984, Senator Tom

Harkin (D-IA) has been a leader in the effort to improve

health care for Iowans and all Americans. Along with

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA), he led the effort to double

funding for the National Institutes of Health. He greatly

increased funding for breast cancer research and

launched a national breast and cervical cancer early

detection program. He is principal cosponsor of the

Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act, intended to lift

the current restrictions on embryonic stem cell research.

And in recent years, he has led the campaign to reorient

the U.S. health care system toward wellness and disease

prevention.

DOI: 10.1177/0002716207308840