Food Fights - Southern California Style

Abstract

Childhood and adult obesity have become national concerns with roughly one in five children overweight. The primary causes of weight gain are genetic, dietary, and exercise, or the lack thereof.

Exercise was emphasized beginning in the 1950's with President Eisenhower creating the President's Council on Youth Fitness on July 16, 1956 to encourage physical fitness in our youth. President Kennedy changed it to the President's Council on Physical Fitness in 1963. Physical fitness, "PE," was required in our schools from K-12.

The push for physical exercise has been deemphasized in recent years as our life styles have changed.

The government is now emphasizing dietary restrictions as the means to reduce childhood obesity. The restrictions are being led by leaders in New York City and Los Angeles. Thus, sugared sodas and junk foods have been banned in schools and Los Angeles Unified has banned flavored milks. LA is restricting the opening of new fast food restaurants. Other communities have banned Happy Meals. Mayor Bloomberg of New York City proposed a ban on sugared drinks of 20oz or more. Taxes are proposed on sodas to reduce their sales.

Changes to school menus often meet with consumer resistance as with Los Angeles’ revolutionary change in the school lunch menu.

The purpose of this paper is to show that many of the proposals are ill-advised, often ineffective, and sometimes counter-productive.

Keywords: Childhood Obesity, Food Bans, Food Fights, Happy Meals, Junk Food, Lunch Menus, Physical Exercise, Sodas