Government child obesity efforts lacking, say advertisers

Childhood obesity is being comprehensively tackled by all sectors of society, including media, advertising and food companies, but the US government remains lacking in its response, according to the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

Speaking at the launch of a new Media and Childhood Obesity task force last week, the ANA's executive vice president Daniel Jaffe said the federal government has not provided adequate funding to promote healthy eating and exercise.

For example, he said, funding for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity (DNPA) has remained relatively flat for several years, at $41.5 million.

"At that level, the CDC can only fund anti-obesity efforts in 28 states. There are no DNPA funds available for 22 other states, including Kansas, or for Mississippi and Louisiana, which have the highest obesity rates in the country," he told representatives of the government, food industry, public health groups and media organizations.

Steve - why am I not surprised? The government not putting its money where its mouth is? Ugh.