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Perspectives from United Kingdom and United States Policy Makers on Obesity Prevention Workshop Summary (2010) / Chapter Skim
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3 Government Structures to Address Obesity
Pages 17-22

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From page 17...
... , discussed how the national government in the United Kingdom generally has taken a more active role than that in the United States, although the latter also has many programs and policies addressing obesity. A range of agencies and departments in both countries must deal with different aspects of the obesity problem, such as food assistance, public transportation, marketing, food access and quality, food labeling, and research.
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From page 18...
... Government leaders at all levels, from the Prime Minister down, have acknowledged obesity as a major national challenge, raising the profile of the problem, especially among children, as one that merits national attention. The evidence is not conclusive on the best ways to fight obesity; many strategies, such as increased breastfeeding, increased physical activity, and more informative food labeling, may all play a role.
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From page 19...
... Offering Delivery and Support Programs The third broad role for the British government is to provide programs and services designed to implement Healthy Weight, Healthy Lives. These programs and services are aimed at early prevention, healthier eating, more physical activity, provision of incentives and workplace support, and personalized support.
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From page 20...
... Concern remains, however, about the appropriate role of the state so that it is not seen as overstepping its bounds, especially with respect to adults. Finally, Jackson suggested that the increasing globalization of the food industry, marketing, and the media means that the United Kingdom and the United States may have further areas of accord to explore.
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From page 21...
... Other entities with the potential to address obesity include the US Department of Education, which sets standards for school performance (although physical education is not part of those standards) , and the Federal Trade Commission, which Congress has mandated to consider voluntary standards for foods advertised to children.
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From page 22...
... Finally, as noted earlier, the United Kingdom has a more vertically integrated system than that of the United States, with more national-level programs, while the United States is characterized by more state and local control. This difference implies different structures for the development of policies and programs to combat obesity.
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Key Terms

  • healthy weight
  • childhood obesity
  • healthy lives
  • obesity prevention
  • british government

  • address obesity
  • lives strategy
  • fight obesity
  • increased physical
  • national government

  • prevention efforts
  • broad role
  • foresight report
  • vertically integrated
  • regional obesity

  • obesity rates
  • addressing obesity
  • obesity debate
  • obesity interventions
  • obesity research

  • obesity strategies
  • acknowledged obesity
  • funded obesity
  • national challenge
  • promote healthy

  • merits national
  • obesity include
  • major national
  • government adopted
  • national strategy


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