Stimulating a Healthy Nation
10/27/2009In recent weeks, there has been increased coverage on an initiative to fight childhood obesity, led by first lady Michelle Obama. The Department of Health and Human Services has tagged nearly $500 million in stimulus funds to go towards promoting healthier habits, targeting the younger generation. The White House has also included $1 billion in the Recovery Act for health-awareness related programs. Earlier this week when addressing the department, the first lady said kids need to “just eat [their vegetables],” laying down the law for healthy habits. Everything influencing a child’s nutrition, from cafeteria selections to – you guessed it – vending machine offering, is being targeted by the campaign. It is great to be endorsing healthy habits, but she admitted that habits must be instilled by parents, and there is only so much the government can do without support of caregivers.
Healthy habits begin at home, and, as has been noted in news stories, when kids do not have access to the candy bar they want at school, they will find a way to get it, whether it is supplied at school or not. Make sure lunch options are nutritious and provide what the kids need? Absolutely. Revamp the vending machine to eliminate sodas or chocolate? I’m not convinced this is how to change the thinking of the population. How the funds will be used to increase health and decrease childhood obesity is yet to be seen, but am definitely interested to see the direction it heads. Processed foods and those that are usually deemed unhealthy are often the less expensive options, and, especially in the recent economy, tend to be purchased more frequently, setting the taste for what the younger generation wants. Maybe some of the stimulus can go toward making these healthy options more affordable for the average Joe.
