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Americans are beginning to realize that
childhood obesity is a real problem and are even starting to do something
about it, but there is no way to tell what actually works, a panel of
experts said on Wednesday. (File Photo)
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BEIJING,
Sept. 14(Xinhuanet) -- Americans are beginning to realize that childhood
obesity is a real problem and are even starting to do something about it, but
there is no way to tell what actually works, a panel of experts said on
Wednesday.
And at least one program that succeeded just lost its
federal funding, the experts at the Institute of Medicine said.
"There is a proliferation of activity taking place
across the country in schools, in the community and states, but precious little
of it has been subject to evaluation," said Dr. Jeffrey Koplan, vice president
for academic health affairs at Emory University in Atlanta, who chaired the
panel.
"These things look good, some of them," added Koplan,
a former director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"There is a program in Marin County, Calif. that
promoted children riding their bicycles to school and they seem to have good
success getting that to happen," Koplan said in a telephone interview.
"There was a national campaign called VERB done by
CDC and the federal government to increase children's awareness of being
physically active," he added. "That was shown to be effective in doing those
things but then it ceased to be funded."
The program ends this month.
The need for better programs is clear. The obesity
rate for U.S. children and youth rose from 16 percent in 2002 to 17.1 percent in
2004. It is projected to hit 20 percent by 2010.
Many parents have complained that testing
requirements, budget crunches and other factors have caused schools to drop
recess and physical education -- two important opportunities for children to get
exercise.
"From my perspective as a physician and public health
professional ... I'd have to say we should not remove physical activity from the
school day," Koplan said.
Parents are also being urged to do more to help their
children eat better, watch less television and exercise more.
The Institute of Medicine, which advises the federal
government on health matters, issued a series of recommendations, which include
more work from federal, state and local government to lead and monitor efforts.
"Given the increasing proportion of calories children
and youth consume outside of the home, the report also recommends that the Food
and Drug Administration be given the authority to evaluate full serve and quick
serve restaurants' food, beverage, and meal options to ensure that nutrition
information is more accessible and relevant to young consumers," the Institute
said.
Schools need to do more, and to share their findings
with parents and the community, the panel said. Enditem
(Agencies)
