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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Susan L. Roberts, JD, MS, RD, Thomas Jefferson Agricultural Insitute, 8830 NW 35th Street, Ankeny, IA 50023, 515.965.3859, susan@susan-roberts.net

The childhood obesity epidemic is the result of multiple causes. One of the factors, often not considered or poorly understood, is public policy that controls our food and agriculture system. A major piece of public policy which controls our food and agriculture system is the US farm bill which is up for reauthorization in 2007. The current policies of the farm bill support an industrialized production paradigm. It will be argued with data that this production paradigm is a factor in childhood obesity because this system, because of policy, produces large amounts of food that significantly increase fat and sweetener availability and in turn dietary intake of foods with these components; while at the same time, does not produce sufficient quantities of healthier foods, as recommended in the US dietary guidelines, increasing the cost and decreasing the availability of these foods. Both consequences have the effect of increasing obesity. At the same time, federal agriculture policy can be a vehicle for helpful policies and programs which increase the intake of fruits and vegetables by children decreasing the likelihood of obesity. The farm bill should support and increase programs such as the school fruit and vegetable program or farm to school programs. Food and agriculture policy influences health, especially with relation to obesity and children. Crafting food and agriculture policy to prevent child hood obesity is possible with involvement from health professionals in the 2007 farm bill.

Learning Objectives: