Published: December 11, 2007 04:44 pm      

Farm Bill fuels U.S. obesity epidemic

More than 9 million children in the United States are obese. Many have high blood pressure and cholesterol, two precursors to cardiovascular disease. The Farm Bill, which uses taxpayers money to find the production of foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol, and sugar, is fueling the obesity epidemic.

Children who are overweight are more likely to develop heart disease during adulthood, according to a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine. Researchers project that teenage obesity in the United States will raise heart disease rates by at least 15 percent by 2035. But healthy food and lifestyle choices can help stem this trend.

Parents don’t need the government sabotaging their efforts to help their children make wise food choices.

Congress can help make fruits and vegetables more available to all children by passing the Lugar-Lautenberg Amendment when they vote on the Farm Bill this month. It would reduce federal subsidies for unhealthy foods and give more support for fruits, vegetables, and other healthy vegetarian foods that can help children stay slim and avoid heart disease.

Susan Levin, M.S., R.D.

staff nutritionist

Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine

Washington, D.C.