Call to action to prevent obesity

Have you heard about the Surgeon General’s “Call to Action” to prevent and decrease overweight and obesity?

I hadn’t either.

So the Surgeon General must not have done a lot of “calling.”

Or, more likely, he realized that the “call” was based on such shaky evidence, it didn’t deserve much effort.

Like almost all public health policy related to the increased incidence of overweight and obesity, this “call” tell governments, communities and schools to “take action to assist Americans in balancing healthful eating with regular physical activity.”

So, where is their evidence this will work? Sure, it seems logical but, as I’ve said in previous blogs, the data just isn’t there to support it. But that doesn’t keep the health policy folks from offering up ideas on how to make these things happen — for example:

* Daily gym in school
* Reduce TV time
* Ensure that people get 30 minutes of moderate physical activity most days of the week (have you heard this one before/)
* Create more opportunities for physical activity at worksites
* Make community facilities available for physical activity
* Promote healthier food choices — including 5 servings of fruits and vegetables each day
* Ensure schools provide healthful foods

Don’t get me wrong, these are all great ideas — but for reasons other than addressing the “obesity epidemic.”

Doing things to help American increase their physical activity is a wonderful idea — if the goal is to improve American’s fitness.

And, doing things to help Americans eat healthier food is a wonderful idea — if the goal is to improve American’s nutrition.

However, these two objectives are the WRONG place to focus if the goal is to prevent overweight and obesity.

Allen Oelschlaeger
Author of Finally, the Straight Scoop About Weight, Nutrition, and Fitness