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« Fitness for Moms Carnival, 2nd Edition- September 26, 2007 | Main | Week 11: Moving, A Workout in Itself, Sept. 16-22 »

Why the Federal Government is Ineffective in Combating Obesity

By Cindy | September 27, 2007

I came across an interesting article on CNN.com about obesity and the Federal Government, Report: National Strategy Needed to Fight Fat. I am not an advocate of Federal involvement in Weight Loss and Exercise Programs. Between the Center of Disease Control, The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports and MyPyramid.gov, the Federal Government has provided the tools necessary to inform people about the health consequences caused by obesity.

In a report titled, “Trust for America’s Health, titled “F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America,” the report’s co-author says the government needs to treat this trend as an epidemic that threatens the health of Americans and put in place a national plan to combat obesity.” Unlike diseases such as “the pandemic flu” in which shots and a certain level of quarantine are implemented to halt or prevent the spread of the disease, obesity is a result of behavior and personal choice patterns over a span of an individual’s lifespan. The Federal government is not responsible for setting up plans to combat obesity.

Mr. Levi, co-author to the Trust of America’s Health report, stated:

“People can’t exercise personal responsibility in a vacuum,” he said. “If you’re telling people to eat healthier food and there are no grocery stores in the neighborhood; if you’re telling them to be more physically active, and they live in poor, unsafe neighborhoods or in suburban neighborhoods with no sidewalks, then you’ve created an environment that doesn’t make it possible for people to exercise that personal responsibility. That’s where government plays a role.”

People aren’t living in a vacuum. Grocery stores are available to everyone in this country. People choose NOT to buy basic foods that are healthy and wholesome. People choose not to walk and spend time outside. People choose not to engaged in activity in their own home. The environment does play a role in people’s sense of security, but the number of individuals in unsafe environments compared to the number of individuals overweight or obese is not equivalent.

To establish successful programs for higher activity and improved personal habits, the private sector and businesses have the most incentive to be effective. The fact that obesity affects health care costs and the individual’s performance at work should spur companies to create programs to combat obesity. Companies such as Google, Microsoft, and Dell, know the importance of including physical fitness programs into the workday.

I think it’s important that we face the issue of obesity, but I don’t believe it’s the responsibility of the Federal Government to establish programs that will provide few benefits at such an expensive cost. Local communities and States have a better pulse on establishing more effective programs. However, all programs established by governmental agencies will not change personal habits. Employers will have the most effect on their employees’ health. Individuals have to want to change. No government program or zoning board is going to force a person to take advantage of “the sidewalks that encourage people to walk.” People must change their habits. If any one force is capable of motivating individuals to take responsibility of their fitness and health habits, it will be the economy and place of employment, not the mandates of the Federal, State or Local Governments.

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Topics: Current Events |