Obesity and Child Well Being

There is no greater problem facing America’s children than the epidemic of overweight and obesity. The Foundation for Child Development’s Child Well Being Index has concluded that the increase is obesity and overweight among children since 1975 has decreased the overall well being of children by more than 30%.

Researchers at the Center for Human Nutrition at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health released a study this summer predicting that unless behaviors change, by 2015, 75% of adults and nearly 24% of children and adolescents in the United States will be overweight or obese. This could result in serious health, family and fiscal consequences for our nation.

What is causing this epidemic? What are its implications? What should America do about it?

This New America event, held in conjunction with the Foundation for Child Development and the offices of Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), featured a discussion of obesity and child well-being, and the communities that are most impacted. Panelists discussed the role of government and explored innovative programs at the state and local levels that are making a difference.

Video of the event is available at right, while an MP3 audio recording can be downloaded below.

Participants

• Dr. Ruby Takanishi
  President
  Foundation for Child Development
• Dr. Kenneth Land
  Coordinator, Project on Child and Youth Well Being
  Duke University
• Dr. Fred Jacobs
  Commissioner
  New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services
• Dr. Kenneth Stanton
  Co-Chair
  Baltimore City Council Task Force on Childhood Obesity
• Tom Sims
  Director, Division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease
  West Virginia Bureau for Public Health
• Stacy Bohlen
  Executive Director
  National Indian Health Board
• Rev. David Gray
  Director, Workforce and Family Program
  New America Foundation