Childhood obesity - What Do The Candidates Have To Say

With childhood obesity nearly tripling in the last two decades, health experts warn it is a growing epidemic. What do our future leaders propose to save these young lives at risk. Recently the Washington Post asked each presidential candidate of their views of the growing pandemic of childhood obesity. Here is what the candidates had to say.

When asked as a president, how would you make the issue of childhood obesity a national health priority?

Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton pledged to ban junk food in schools by
requiring all schools that participate in the school lunch or breakfast programs
to make available only foods that meet or surpass [U.S. Department of Agriculture] nutrition standards. And she has proposed . . . to make the school
breakfast program universal for all students in low-income communities and to
double the summer feeding program.

Democratic candidate Barack Obama would convene a high-level task force [for] regularly examining federal budgets, policies and programs. . .; identifying opportunities for coordination and collaboration across departments; and establishing consensus regarding priorities for action. Equally important, Obama will ensure the
departments had the appropriate resources and authorities to implement any
recommendations from the task force.

Republican candidate John McCain believes that solving the problem of obesity in children can help prevent a lifetime of chronic health conditions. To accomplish that, we must do a better job of teaching children and their parents about child health, nutrition and
exercise.

To see more of what the presidential candidates had to say, click on the Washington Post above.