Listen Live
Donate
 on air
Schedule

KCRW

Read & Explore

  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Food
  • Culture
  • Events

Listen

  • Live Radio
  • Music
  • Podcasts
  • Full Schedule

Information

  • About
  • Careers
  • Help / FAQ
  • Newsletters
  • Contact

Support

  • Become a Member
  • Become a VIP
  • Ways to Give
  • Shop
  • Member Perks

Become a Member

Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

DonateGive Monthly

Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
Cookie Policy
|FCC Public Files

Back to To the Point

To the Point

Is Obesity a Problem that's Too Big to Solve?

The obesity epidemic is old news, but it's not getting better. One-third of young people are so overweight they're at risk of Type-2 Diabetes. Ten percent of infants and toddlers are dangerously heavy. First Lady Michelle Obama wants to end childhood obesity in a generation.

  • rss
  • Share
By Warren Olney • May 12, 2014 • 1 min read

The obesity epidemic is old news, but it's not getting better. One-third of young people are so overweight they're at risk of Type-2 Diabetes. Ten percent of infants and toddlers are dangerously heavy. First Lady Michelle Obama wants to end childhood obesity in a generation. She's joined the Surgeon General and Centers for Disease Control in the campaign against obesity. The food industry is under pressure to cut back on fat and calories. The beverage industry says it's stopped delivering sugary drinks to schools. But public relations and voluntary guidelines won't end a crisis with roots in technology and transportation as well as agriculture. We hear about the dangers of America's "culture of corpulence" and what change will require.

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Frances Anderton

    architecture critic and author

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

  • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

    Darrell Satzman

    Producer

  • KCRW placeholder

    Barry Popkin

    Nutrition Epidemiologist, University of North Carolina's Interdisciplinary Obesity Center

  • KCRW placeholder

    Kevin Keane

    Senior VP of Public Affairs, American Beverage Association

  • KCRW placeholder

    Claudia Kalb

    Senior Writer, Newsweek

    NewsNationalPolitics
Back to To the Point