The Fight over Fizz: Soda Taxes as a Means of Curbing Childhood Obesity

Authors

  • Laura Hoffman

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5195/pjephl.2011.26

Abstract

When Michelle Obama found her way to the White House as First Lady, she was a woman with a mission—to help children live healthier lives and tackle childhood obesity. In speaking of this endeavor, the First Lady stated: “In the end, as First Lady, this isn’t just a policy issue for me. This is a passion. This is my mission. I am determined to work with folks across this country to change the way a generation of kids thinks about food and nutrition.”

 

2 Mrs. Obama’s dedication to this effort was not just talk. Her mission and passion led to the establishment of a federal campaign to fight childhood obesity and promote the education of children on health and nutrition known as Let’s Move.3 Additionally, the First Lady’s efforts have been supported by the actions of her husband, President Barack Obama.4 President Obama’s commitment to this mission was first evidenced by his signature to the creation of the first ever federal Task Force on Childhood Obesity simultaneously with the development of the Let’s Move campaign.5 Based on research done by this Task Force, it was recommended that Mrs. Obama’s Let’s Move campaign focused on the following four principles: 1. empowering parents and caregivers, 2. providing healthy food in schools, 3. improving access to healthy, affordable foods, and 4. increasing physical activity.

Author Biography

Laura Hoffman

Esquire

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Published

2011-06-15