Smith encourages collaborative effort to address rising trend
Washington, DC - Today, Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) held a hearing of the Senate Commerce Subcommittee on Competition, Foreign Commerce and Infrastructure to address the issues surrounding the growing rise of child obesity in America. According to The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), since 1980 the proportion of overweight children ages 6-11 has more than doubled, and the rate among adolescents has tripled.
"As a former food processor and as a parent I recognize that this issue is pressing, but should be addressed in a collaborative effort." said Smith. "Although there have been recent reports suggesting children's advertising as a root cause to obesity, this hearing is not meant to vilify the food and advertising industry."
The Subcommittee heard testimony from the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona, research scientists, and food industry leaders regarding the significant increase in child obesity over the past twenty years, and the resulting health and economic consequences.
"Because of the increasing rates of obesity, unhealthy eating habits, and physical inactivity, we may see the first generation that will be less healthy and have a shorter life expectancy than their parents," testified Surgeon General Dr. Richard Carmona. "The economic costs of obesity are staggering - second only to the cost of tobacco use. The annual cost of obesity is now estimated at up to $117 billion in direct and indirect costs."
"Perhaps some malicious marketers in the food industry are contributing to the rise in American child obesity, but common sense tells us that parents have to have a large share of the blame here," said Smith. "If we don't find a middle ground and take a responsible approach to feeding our children we are simply choosing our own convenience at the expense their health."
Today approximately 10% of children aged 2 to 5 years and 15% of children aged 6 to 19 years are obese. Sixty percent of overweight children suffer from high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol levels and/or high levels of insulin in the blood (a precursor to diabetes).
