Obesity Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Obesity, including details on health, diet, prevention, exercise.

Childhood obesity: what's health care policy got to do with it?

Homer C, Simpson LA

National Initiative for Children's Healthcare Quality, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. chomer@nichq.org

The health care industry must acknowledge its critical role in addressing childhood obesity. All components of the industry--payers, plans, and providers--must act based on the best available evidence. This evidence now points to promoting breastfeeding and increased physical activity, decreased television time, and decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages; the use of more-effective counseling techniques; and linking practice and community-based strategies around a common message. Policies in support of these changes include reimbursement for counseling and community efforts; training; incentives; and support for traditional and pragmatic research, the latter including sharing outcomes using common metrics across programs.

Published 6 March 2007 in Health Aff (Millwood), 26(2): 441-4.
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