June 29, 2014

Why Should Diabetes Advocates Enter This Food Fight?

What’s wrong with these two conflicting realities? And, why should diabetes advocates care (and take action)?

Reality 1: A food fight is raging on Capitol Hill because some members of the House of Representatives want to put the brakes on several requirements for school foods and meals which went into effect with the implementation of the Healthy and Hunger Free Kids Act of 2010 (12/13/10). (Read more background below.).

Reality 2: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently announced updated figures for diabetes in the U.S. Top line: there’s been yet another uptick. Now more than 29 million American are estimated to have diabetes, up from 26 million in 2010. Another 86 million adults – more than one in three U.S. adults – have prediabetes (for more on prediabetes). Fifteen to 30 percent of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 within five years. To stats on the related childhood obesity: one out of every three American children is overweight or obese. Many children, who eat half their calories at school, consume a diet too high in saturated fat, sodium, and sugars, and too low in fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.