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Hunger-Free Kids Act is unveiled
By: Scottsdale Weight Loss Center
Published: March 25, 2010
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On March 17, the Hunger-Free Kids Act was released, with the plan to provide $3.2 billion towards “Promoting health and reducing childhood obesity.” This would be administered through the Department of Agriculture. The Program aims to overhaul school lunches, and develop national standards for revenue generating foods such as vending machines. Since childhood obesity is at crisis levels, and since most children with obesity become adults with obesity, I feel this is a good place to start.
I am currently supporting efforts to reduce fruit juices in daycare centers. In Arizona, childcare centers are allowed to give fruit juice as a substitute for whole fruit. This exposes children to drinks that are high in sugar, and low in fiber. Such foods tend to promote obesity and dental cavities. Studies show that people who consume fruit juice prior to a meal will eat more food at the meal than those who drink water. The added sugar primes the body for a larger meal. In effect, kids get the calories from the juice, plus are hungrier, and eat more food at the meal. Fruit juice contains more sugar and calories than an equal serving size of cola!
My recommendations for the Hunger-Free Kids Act relating to childhood obesity are as follows:
- Encourage the intake of 5 fruits and vegetables daily. Making these foods readily available will crowd out high calorie foods.
- Eliminate sugar containing drinks and fruit juices, including 100% fruit juice in schools and vending machines. Instead give whole fruit. This would also encourage food producers to supply inexpensive and non-perishable sources of whole fruit.
- Require that vending machines contain foods that promote weight maintenance, such as those higher in protein and fiber, and lower in sugars, flour, and fats. We have developed FoodGauge, a program to identify such foods. This tool is available on iphone and Blackberry for download. Some great snacks include high protein bars, edamame (soy beans), and beef jerky.
- Early in high school, children should be educated to identify the early signs of weight gain. I advocate that once fully grown, young adults should “NEVER BUY BIGGER PANTS.” If the pants are tight, it’s time to exercise more and cut out some of the snacks and high calorie drinks. A campaign to NEVER BUY BIGGER PANTS will promote obesity prevention, since adults tend to gain weight as they age.
Nick
Nick's Story
"I wish I would have come here first. We spend all our time reacting to the next great weight loss tip or program. It might work for a while, but does not last and we end up yo-yoing from one fad to the next – as we gain more weight." Read More
Gina
Lost 44.5 lbs
"I had no trouble adhering to the meals and they really helped catapult my progress! The classes were so beneficial to me because they helped change my thinking about how I viewed health, nutrition, and fitness.
I will always have my relationship with Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. They truly helped me change my life forever." Read More
Lauren
Lost 60 lbs
"Dr. Ziltzer and everyone who I have come in contact with at the Scottsdale Weight Loss office have been so encouraging and I look forward to seeing them each week. It is now a year and 2 months later since I started. I am down 60 lbs., which is the average amount a 9-year-old weighs, it is crazy to think I lost a whole person! I feel amazing, I hit my goal weight in November 2021 just before Thanksgiving. Nothing on my body hurts anymore..." Read More
Chuck
Lost 66 lbs
"The best thing I did was call the Scottsdale Weight Loss Center. I have a lot more energy, I'm not hungry, and it feels great.
You can take it from me that this is a program that produces results. The staff is always positive, supportive, and never judgmental.
Your visits always result in positive reinforcement, no matter if you had a good week or a bad week." Read More
Emily
Lost 101 lbs
"Here I am at the lowest I have been since high school weighing in at 155lbs. I have lost 101 lbs, BMI of 39 when I started, to 21.6, and of course at body fat % of 47.1 to 26.5%. I told myself by my 30th birthday I wanted to be confident in the way I look and I owe it all to SWLC. The entire staff is so welcoming and they are rooting for you just as much as you are rooting for yourself...." Read More
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Meet Our Team
Robert Ziltzer, MD, FACP, FAAP, FOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Diana Bone, FNP-C
Specializing in Obesity Medicine
Craig Primack, MD, FACP, FAAP, MFOMA
Obesity Medicine Certified Physician
Kristen Ash, FNP-C, FNP-BC
Nurse Practitioner
Alicia Earley, FNP-C
Family Nurse Practitioner
