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    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.

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    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.

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Obesity a Problem that's Too Big to Solve?
    1. 0:00Healthcare Bill's New Momentum with Deficit Reduction Forecast
    2. 7:35Is Obesity a Problem that's Too Big to Solve?You’re reading this
    3. 43:03US and Russia Near Agreement on New Arms Deal
    • 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

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      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

    The full episode

    2 of 3
    Is Obesity a Problem that's Too Big to Solve?
    1. 0:00Healthcare Bill's New Momentum with Deficit Reduction Forecast
    2. 7:35Is Obesity a Problem that's Too Big to Solve?You’re reading this
    3. 43:03US and Russia Near Agreement on New Arms Deal
    Back to To the Point