Cutting-the-fat bills target overweight kids

The impact of childhood obesity on health has prompted efforts by Maine legislators to promote healthy eating and exercise.

By Susan J. Landers, AMNews staff. March 10, 2003.

Washington -- Obesity. Clearly it's an epidemic. And it is becoming an increasingly difficult public health problem to address.

Physicians' messages of personal health and responsibility as well as nutrition and exercise don't seem to find traction among patients at highest risk. The statistics are getting worse, not better. It's a frustrating challenge, and one that has led some doctors to look beyond the exam room for assistance.

In Maine, the state Legislature is taking on the problem of obesity with a comprehensive package of proposals to promote exercise, curtail the sale of soft drinks in schools and include information on the menu boards of large chain restaurants that spells out just how much fat there is in a Big Mac or a Coconut Crème Frappuccino.

The legislation has the support of the Maine Medical Assn., whose governing body decided last fall to work toward removal of foods with high sugar content from school vending machines and to encourage increased attention to physical education in the schools. The association was quick to support the package of bills introduced by Democratic State Rep. Sean Faircloth that could carry those aims forward, said Jacob Gerritsen, MD, chairman of the association's Public Health Committee.

The bills prohibit soda and candy bar sales in schools, allow the state to use gas tax revenue to pay for safer walking and biking routes to school, require fast food restaurants to list nutrition information on menus and call for studies of nutrition programs and the amount of physical education offered in schools.