Clinton's Ambitious Campaign Against Childhood Obesity
On May 3, 2005, Bill Clinton and Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee appeared in a New York City school near the hospital where Clinton had bypass surgery last year. According to the Associated Press as reported in The Daily News, Wednesday, May 4, 2005 edition (published in McKeesport, Pennsylvania), they are kicking off an ambitious plan to fight childhood obesity. This is a joint project of the American Heart Association and the William J. Clinton Foundation. How ambitious? "Clinton and Huckabee vowed to halt childhood obesity in the United States by 2010," reported the AP.
Childhood obesity in the United States has rapidly become a massive problem. The article reports that the number of overweight children has doubled since 1980. Sixteen million US children are now estimated to be obese. This makes them more susceptible to life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. According to the article, an obese child has a 70 percent chance of staying obese as an adult. That could reduce the child’s life expectancy from two to five years. "The truth is that children born today could become part of the first generation in American history to live shorter lives than their parents because so many are eating too much of the wrong things and not exercising enough," Clinton said in his speech.
Why is this issue so important to Clinton and Huckabee? Because they know the consequences of a lifetime of bad habits. Both were known for their love of junk food, and both landed in the hospital. Clinton had to have bypass surgery, and Huckabee had to lose 110 pounds when he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. They don’t want today’s obese children to end up like them or worse.
Plans are to "work with schools, communities, the restaurant and food industry and the media to develop programs and policies designed to encourage healthier food choices and more exercise." They are working on an interactive web site which will be directed at children between the ages of nine and thirteen. Huckabee will soon release a book called Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork. Both men are hoping adding their high profile names to the battle will bring more attention to the issue.
Childhood obesity in the United States has rapidly become a massive problem. The article reports that the number of overweight children has doubled since 1980. Sixteen million US children are now estimated to be obese. This makes them more susceptible to life-threatening diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes. According to the article, an obese child has a 70 percent chance of staying obese as an adult. That could reduce the child’s life expectancy from two to five years. "The truth is that children born today could become part of the first generation in American history to live shorter lives than their parents because so many are eating too much of the wrong things and not exercising enough," Clinton said in his speech.
Why is this issue so important to Clinton and Huckabee? Because they know the consequences of a lifetime of bad habits. Both were known for their love of junk food, and both landed in the hospital. Clinton had to have bypass surgery, and Huckabee had to lose 110 pounds when he was diagnosed with Type II diabetes. They don’t want today’s obese children to end up like them or worse.
Plans are to "work with schools, communities, the restaurant and food industry and the media to develop programs and policies designed to encourage healthier food choices and more exercise." They are working on an interactive web site which will be directed at children between the ages of nine and thirteen. Huckabee will soon release a book called Quit Digging Your Grave With a Knife and Fork. Both men are hoping adding their high profile names to the battle will bring more attention to the issue.
posted by Theodosia @ 6:23 AM
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