Feds want ideas about battling childhood obesity

Industry News - AM

By Ann Bagel Storck on 3/18/2010

The U.S. Departments of Agriculture, Education and Health and Human Services are asking the public for ideas to help the Task Force on Childhood Obesity craft recommendations to solve the problem of childhood obesity.

President Obama created the task force last month to enhance coordination between private sector companies, not-for-profits, agencies within the government and other organizations to address the problem of childhood obesity. The group was directed to review the following objectives:

Ensuring access to healthy, affordable food

Increasing physical activity in schools and communities

Providing healthier food in schools

Empowering parents with information and tools to make good choices for themselves and their families
The notice of the request for public input, including more specifics, is available here in the March 16 Federal Register.

Comments, which will be open to public review, should be submitted online at regulations.gov, or by fax (202/720-7166) or mail to Director, Office Executive Secretariat, USDA, 1400 Independence Ave., S.W., Room 116-A Whitten Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20250.