2009 Childhood Obesity Conference addresses new challenges, approaches to improving children's health
BERKELEY — Focusing on proven strategies to improve children's health and prevent obesity is even more important during times of economic turmoil, according to organizers of the upcoming 2009 Childhood Obesity Conference. Called "Creating Healthy Places for All Children," the June 9-12 conference in Los Angeles comes amid challenging times when more families are struggling with limited food budgets, and communities have fewer resources. One sign of the increased strain is enrollment in the state's Food Stamp Program, which jumped from 2.2 million people in March 2008 to 2.6 million in March 2009, conference organizers said. An economic analysis for the state health department found that in 2000, physical inactivity, obesity and overweight cost California approximately $21.7 billion, including related medical care and lost productivity. The same analysis estimated that 5 percent improvements in rates of physical activity and healthy weight over a five-year period could save California over $6 billion, and 10 percent improvements could result in about $13 billion in savings. A 2006 report found that per capita consumption of soft drinks in the U.S. increased by 500 percent during the last 50 years, and that the average serving size increased from 6.5 ounces, or 88 calories, in the 1950s to 20 ounces, or 266 calories, today. Only 2 percent of adolescents interviewed in the California Teen Eating and Exercise and Nutrition Survey met all of the dietary recommendations.
