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CNN Saturday Morning News

Fighting Childhood Obesity

Aired November 06, 2010 - 09:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

T.J. HOLMES, CNN ANCHOR: There is an effort underway to take the happy out of the Happy Meal. Yes, I'm talking about the McDonald's Happy Meal. And for the past 30 years has included a burger, fries, drink and a toy. But one city voted this week to take the toy out of the popular kids meal. They didn't name McDonald's specifically, this refers to all restaurants that put toys in.

But what in the world is going on? Why would anybody do such a thing? Well, it's to fight childhood obesity.

Hello to you all. Welcome back to this CNN SATURDAY MORNING.

Every Saturday during this 9:00 a.m. Eastern half hour, we focus on one topic that affects you. Today, we're talking about our overweight kids and the drastic steps that are some are taking to try to slim them down.

The city I was referring to, San Francisco. This week became the first city in the country to ban restaurants from offering free toys with meals that don't meet certain nutritional standards.

Take a look at this. The ordinance says McDonald's or any other restaurant can't offer a toy or "incentive item" with a meal that has more than 600 calories or if more than 35 percent of the total calories are from fat.

It also says the restaurant can't offer a toy unless the meal includes a certain amount of fruits and vegetables.

The ordinance is expected to get final approval next week, but it does not go into effect immediately. Restaurants would still have until December of next year to try to adjust their menus.

Again, San Francisco made this move to fight childhood obesity. How exactly is taking the toy out of the meal supposed to do that? That's the question for our senior medical correspondent Elizabeth Cohen.

ELIZABETH COHEN, CNN SENIOR MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: T.J., this is one way to try to combat the epidemic of childhood obesity. Tell your child if you want a high-fat, high-calorie Happy Meal, go ahead, but you won't get a toy. But if you get a healthier Happy Meal, then you will get a toy. Now this pertains not just to McDonald's, but to any restaurant like it that gives out a toy with their meals if the meal is high fat and high calories.

So let's take a look at a meal where your child would not be able to get a toy if you live in San Francisco once this law goes into effect. For example, if your child wants a cheeseburger, small fries, and a soda Happy Meal, that's 640 calories and 24 grams of fat. Six hundred and forty calories is about half the amount of calories that an eight-year-old is supposed to get in an entire day. So that child is getting more than half of his or her calories for the day only in one meal.

Now, McDonald's as you might suspect had a reaction to this new ordnance in San Francisco. Here's what they had the to say. They said "We're extremely disappointed. This is not what our customers want and they say that it's the parents' right not the government's right to make decisions about what is right for their children."

But on the other hand, some people feel that this might help parents and children make better choices about what to eat.

T.J., back to you.

HOLMES: All right. Thanks to our Elizabeth Cohen there.

Even though McDonald's has gotten most of the scrutiny, as they often do. This applies to all new restaurants that offer toys with meals. Also, you may remember Santa Clara County in California passed a similar ordinance earlier this year.

And I want to bring in Judith Rodriguez. She's the president of the American Dietetics Association with its largest meeting of food and nutrition experts taking place this weekend, some 70,000, I hear, ma'am, you all are getting together there in Boston.

That is a huge number and a huge task for you all certainly on hand with just part of what you're doing is trying to combat childhood obesity. Let me just get your reaction to what they're doing out in San Francisco. Of course, that doesn't tackle the core problem, but can something like this help take that incentive away?

PROF. JUDITH C. RODRIGUEZ, PRESIDENT, AMERICAN DIETETICS ASSOCIATIONS: Well, you know, thank you, first of all, for inviting me to come over and speak on behalf of the registered dietitians of the American Dietetics Association. This is a great topic because we all know that childhood obesity is a critical problem facing our society today.

I think the important thing here is that the members of the American Dietetic Association know that it's a complicated problem and we're not really worried as much about one toy, one meal, one snack. We really want to work with families to look at the total meal.

And whether the things that we can do to help families, caregivers, schools, communities really have a healthy way to approach working with families. So we actually are very happy here because we're launching a program called Kids Eat Right. And people can go to kidseatright.org and get a lot of information about our initiative.

HOLMES: Now, how much of this - I mean, clearly it has to be so much of what that kid does at home and knows at home. No matter what meal they get at school that might not be healthy, the choices are all about what happen at home.

How do you educate folks? I mean, we all know this stuff. We know what's good for us and what's bad for us. How do you make us eat it?

RODRIGUEZ: That's right. And that's why with the initiative we're trying to focus on three really simple things. Shopping, cooking, and eating. We look at the evidence. We're based on the science and we know that the science shows that when children help parents shop, they learn a lot of critical, critical things about making choices. So that's really a good way to start.

We can help parents do really simple things like say, all right, you know, why don't you come with me to the supermarket? I'm going to go pick out the vegetables, maybe you can help me pick out the fruits. And let's look for something that might be bright orange or something that might be bright green. Or let's look at a label and let's make sure that when we look at the sugar it doesn't say more than maybe 10 grams of sugar. And so that way we're starting to teach them how to make choices. So that's one of our basics tenets, shopping.

The other one is cooking. We know that when children are involved with preparation, they're happier about eating the food that they've helped prepare. So maybe the child can help with the salad, and then the other one is eating together.

Data is really strong, when the children and the family eat together, they tend to have a healthier outlook on food. It's a good message we can work on.

HOLMES: And one last thing here to you, how big of a battle do you have? I mean, in these economic times we're in, as well, when more and more people, I mean, just as a society, we're on the move, and a lot of people just can't afford, don't have the time and also can't afford certain things. This fast food is quick and it's cheap and it's easy.

And I know what you're going to say here, a lot of this healthy food doesn't have to be expensive. But how - how big of a battle do you have there in trying to get people to, you know, the stuff that's quick and cheap and easy, it works.

RODRIGUEZ: Yes. It is a big battle, but, you know, we want to emphasize it's not about good foods, it's not about bad foods, it's about the total diet. And our job really is to work with families from their reality. We know some have limited resources and we want to help them figure out within the resources you have, what can you do so that you can eat healthy, have some of the things you like. We say follow like a 90/10 rule. If you're eating healthy 90 percent of the time, 10 percent is OK. We really have to work with families to help them have a realistic way to approach their everyday life and integrating healthy eating, making it fun. But also, teaching the children those critical skills that they're going to need throughout their whole life. Not only about choosing food, but choosing other things.

So the Kids Eat Right Program, I think is going to be fantastic. And I'm happy the American Dietetic Association is really working on that.

HOLMES: We're going to try to get that link up to our viewers, and a lot of people interested in this. But you all have a program and maybe people can follow it. Thank you so much for taking the time out.

Again, Judith Rodriguez, and good luck with your event and your conference going on this weekend. And thank you for spending time with us this morning.

RODRIGUEZ: Thank you very much. And it's kidseatright.org.

HOLMES: All right. Make sure you get that message out there. You can tell she is passionate about what she's doing. Now, thank you so, so much. And there it is, we have it up on the screen for our viewers, as well.

Well, kids, people will tell, you don't care about eating healthy. They want what they want and they want it now. So what can parents actually do? One state trying to help out here. Teaching kids about those healthy food choices at school. They've got a program of their own up their sleeves in one state. We'll tell you where it is and talk to them about it after the break. We'll be right back.

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HOLMES: Well, 13 minutes past the hour, we're focusing on the epidemic of childhood obesity this hour. Here are some of the facts to share with you as we talk about it.

In 2009, a study show that of our country's high school students by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they did this study. They found that 12 percent of high schoolers were obese, 29 percent drank soda at least once a day, 23 percent did less than 60 minutes of physical activity daily.

So what are we supposed to do here to stop this obesity epidemic with our children? Why not make eating right a lesson that all young students are required to learn?

That's kind of the idea in Iowa. The state is enforcing a new law called the Healthy Kids Act. It drastically changed the foods that are allowed to be served in schools. For some school districts that means, no more French fries, no more chocolate, all that stuff. So long to the sodas, as well. Erika Thomas of our affiliate, KMEG, explains now, they hope these big changes will help them battle obesity one child at a time.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ERIKA THOMAS, KMEG REPORTER (voice-over): The Healthy Kids Act went into effect July 1st. And changes district guidelines to lower sodium and fat and eliminate carbonation and white bread.

RICH LUZE, FOOD SERVICE DIRECTOR: Get the meals as healthy as possible and as nutritious as possible.

THOMAS: The biggest noticeable change, no more French fries. In fact, the district sold all its fryers.

LUZE: It will still be offered but then the bakeable version and less frequently.

THOMAS: Healthier options help kids meet the federal nutrition guidelines displayed in all school cafeterias.

LUZE: Not only see it on the wall, but then see it on the plate and get it all sink in, hopefully.

THOMAS: Parents who pack a sack lunch can make those same choices for their kids and get it to school safely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There's a lot of nice little lunch bags out there. And if you can get the freezer gel packs to put in the lunch bags, that will help keep the lunch healthy and safe.

THOMAS: Either way, the goal of the Healthy Kids Act is to help lower childhood obesity and diabetes.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: We want everybody to be healthy. If we can start with kids being healthy, then in the long run, we're going to have healthier adults. And we're going to have less medical issues, less costs. As those kids age and become grown up.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

HOLMES: I want to turn to Patti Delger. She is the team nutrition project director for the state of Iowa, joining me on the phone now.

Ma'am, thank you for being here this morning. We talked about the national numbers. How bad is the epidemic of childhood obesity in your state?

PATTI DELGER, PROJECT DIRECTOR, TEAM NUTRITION (via telephone): At this time, the rate is around 17 percent for childhood obesity in Iowa.

HOLMES: Where has that number been going over years? Has the state made progress (ph) in the past couple of years? Has it stayed steady?

DELGER: It is rising, just like the national rate.

HOLMES: It is rising.

DELGER: Continues to rise.

HOLMES: And you all made a move there with the Healthy Kids Act. I guess it's early. This is the first year you all have implemented this into the schools. I guess what would you need to see down the road? And how many years down the road before you'll be able to measure whether or not it was successful?

DELGER: Well, that's a good question. It did just go into effect July 1st. For nutrition content to be put into place. And this affects vending in schools, a la carte sales, as well as fund raising items. They have to meet nutrition content standards for calories, sodium, fat, sugar, and fiber.

This is the first year, and it's the tip of the iceberg. We're trying to make the changes so the healthy choices available throughout the building for children. And with time, we'll see the effects.

HOLMES: And you talked about these vending machines that applies to all foods on the campuses. Are we essentially talking about kids can't get all that fattening stuff out of the vending machines? Does this mean the elimination of sodas at every district essentially every school across your state?

DELGER: That's exactly what it means. The vending machines no longer have sodas.

HOLMES: How are the kids taking to these changes right now, ma'am?

DELGER: Well, there are some - a little resistance, but we have found even as it started that they're adapting.

HOLMES: Very good. And of course they will over time. And the younger ones if they come into school this is the way it is, it's not going to be a problem for them down the road as they get older.

One more thing for you here, no matter what you do at the schools and certainly some better choices the kids can make at school. But will it still all boil down to what is happening when that child leaves the school? What kind of stuff they're eating at home, what they're being fed on those dinner tables. Is that still the bigger issue that's going to really make a dent and those high numbers you talk about in your state?

DELGER: You know, it is. It's a shared responsibility between the parents and the school to help make the healthy choice, the easy choice. We hope it'll overflow back home. You know, some of these changes happening at school. So it's a shared responsibility.

HOLMES: Well, Patti Delger, Team Nutrition project director for the state of Iowa, we appreciate you being here. And we appreciate being able to feature and showing one state that is finding its own way, as well, to try to combat this epidemic.

Thank you so much for your time, ma'am. Enjoy the rest of your Saturday.

DELGER: Thank you.

HOLMES: All right. Of course, we're talking about this fast food. Kids love the fast food. Why the toys? Why do you have to throw that in there? We're going to explore exactly why fast food chains include that extra incentive in each meal. That's coming up.

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HOLMES: In case you were wondering just how serious childhood obesity has become, it is now considered a national epidemic, according to the CDC, the number of obese children has more than tripled in the last 30 years for kids age six to 11, the obesity rate went from 6.5 percent in 1980 to over 19 percent in 2008.

For kids between the ages of 12 and 19, obesity went from five percent in 1980 to 18 percent in 2008. This morning, we are talking about it and how to fight it. We told you earlier how one city, San Francisco, has voted to take toys out of popular kids' meals.

Let's get a little deeper here, no secret, kids love fast food, right? Why the extra incentive? Kat Kinsman is from CNN's Eatocracy.com. She's joining me this morning from New York.

Always good to have you here. Don't kids love this stuff? Why put the toy in there in the first place?

KAT KINSMAN, CNN'S EATOCRACY.COM: Oh, if you were a marketer, you're going to use absolutely everything in your arsenal to get kids to eat your product. I used to work in advertising and so there's nothing - you want to create some extra incentive. Kids love toys, why not make a link there between delicious, but bad for you food, and things you love to play with?

HOLMES: OK, Kat, if they took every single toy out of every single meal at every single fast food restaurant, would we still have an obesity epidemic in this country? Would it be as severe? I mean, how much of a dent do these toys really make in what we're seeing?

KINSMAN: Oh, you know, I don't think - it's not the toys, it's the marketing. Fast food companies have insane marketing budgets. And all you can do as a parent is try to just take everything in your arsenal that you have at home and make the food you have at home as desirable as possible.

It surely wouldn't do away with the obesity problem, but kids don't need that extra incentive to collect all four. Here's this movie you love, why not give the toy? Why not come back and get the next toy in the set? It's no secret that kids love toys. HOLMES: Well, Kat, on the flip side, then, the thing that kids love about, you know, they love toys, they love color, they love flash and all these. Is that the way we need to market healthy foods? And since we're not doing that, why not?

KINSMAN: Well, you know, it's you're up against a huge machine. Why not use absolutely everything you possibly can. Get the kid involved, show them how cool it is. You know, it's really, as a parent, why not pull out every stop and teach your kid amazing patterns of, you know, of just how they can incorporate really delicious stuff into their lives.

Let the kid help out so they have a stake in what it is that they're making. Show them, "look, you know, it's fun to eat a carrot. Look, it's crunchy, it's colorful." You know, teach them that sort of habit and break the notion of you get a reward on top of the food. The food is the reward.

HOLMES: Kat, did you just say a carrot is fun and exciting and crunchy? No kid is going to buy that.

KINSMAN: You see. Well, I did. As a kid, my mother always made it, you know, fun little thing. Once I got to a certain age, I was the one who was cutting up the carrots. And she was smart enough to realize that, you know, McDonald's, Burger King and all these had fun, bright, nifty stuff that people associate with parties.

HOLMES: Yes. My mom had a method too. My mom had a method, sit down and eat that. That was the end of it. And maybe some people need to take that route, as well. Kat Kinsman, good to see you, as always. We'll see you back here in Atlanta.

KINSMAN: Good to see you, T.J..

HOLMES: Quick break, folks. We'll be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

HOLMES: All right. Bottom of the hour here. Coming up on the bottom here now and again, we have been sharing with you this half hour a lot of what's been happening in this country for the past several years with childhood obesity. The numbers, again, have tripled over the past 30 years in this country when it comes to childhood obesity rates.

I wanted to share with you this half hour to some of those people who are out there trying to make a difference and also share with you some of the things you certainly can do, as well, at home to try to combat this nationwide epidemic as it's called by the CDC.

Also we want to let you know, we are keeping a close eye on what's happening with the president today. Of course, here at CNN, not going too far away from the news of the day. And the president right now on a 10-day trip through Asia. He's in India right now. He's hopping over to several other places, four different nations he's hitting on this trip. I'm going to be back at the top of the hour as our CNN SATURDAY MORNING continues with more live news. But right now, time for me to hand it over to Christine Romans and "YOUR BOTTOM LINE."