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Now
is the time for change in nutrition policy
Nov 12, 08
Suzanne Havala Hobbs
This
month’s election results hold out hope for transformational
changes needed to fix some of our nation’s most vexing
problems, including breakdowns in our financial, health care
and educational systems.
But my wish list also includes solutions to another crisis:
the national nutrition disaster.
Obesity is just one symptom of a public health crisis more
complicated than too many calories and too little exercise.
The conditions that lead to obesity also affect other aspects
of our diets, increasing the risk of a constellation of diseases
and conditions.
That’s where the need for large-scale change comes in.
A substantial evidence base suggests that health is determined
by a range of interrelated environmental factors that can
make it easier – or harder – to maintain a health-supporting
lifestyle.
These factors include physical conditions, such as our proximity
to safe parks, sidewalks, bike paths and the distance we travel
to get to work. They also include social conditions, such
as the examples set by meals served at school or the extent
to which children are exposed to ads promoting junk foods.
Nutrition policies play a critical role in setting up a food
environment that makes it easier for people to make choices
that support health.
But as things stand today, many important nutrition policies
are set up to fail. That’s because:
* We have no unified, national nutrition policy. Instead,
the responsibility for developing and carrying out nutrition
policies is shared among numerous federal agencies, with no
single agency taking the lead.
Areas of jurisdiction are often illogical and murky. For example,
the nation’s dietary recommendations are produced jointly
every five years by the Department of Agriculture and Health
and Human Services.
But regulation of food-labeling policies and dietary supplements
is handled separately by the Food and Drug Administration.
* Conflicts of interest undermine the role of science in dietary
guidance. USDA is charged with protecting and supporting the
interests of American agriculture.
At the same time, the agency develops national dietary recommendations
which guide the national school lunch program and other child
nutrition programs.
Science now points to the need for diets lower in processed
foods, salt, sugar and animal products. That’s at odds
with powerful food industry sectors that stand to lose if
dietary recommendations decrease government support for those
products.
There are many well-documented examples in which the sugar,
meat, dairy and processed food industries have successfully
weakened proposed dietary recommendations that would have
encouraged us to eat less of these foods.
* We lack accountability. Effective nutrition policies require
transparency in decision-making and actions of government
agencies.
This includes full disclosure of the business interests of
individuals in leadership roles, including those serving on
expert panels charged with drafting policy documents.
It’s also gotten harder to gain access to information
about how food and nutrition policies are developed. Government
press office functions have been centralized, cutting journalists
off from direct contact with individuals from key agencies
involved in food and health.
If a journalist wants to talk to an expert at the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention, for example, she needs
permission from the Department of Health and Human Services
press office.
Once she connects with her source, a second agency official
often remains on the phone line while they talk, which can
inhibit the flow of information.
* Fiscal policies support the production of junk foods. Our
government subsidizes the production of cheeseburgers and
soft drinks.
Similar economic incentives are not extended to the production
of fruits, vegetables and other health-supporting foods.
There’s no quick fix for any of these problems, and
incremental changes aren’t likely to have much impact.
Change of the magnitude needed now will require political
will and leadership.
Our nation is suffering from a health crisis exacerbated by
industry-friendly nutrition policies. It’s time for
change.
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