To the Point

Smaller Portions, Bigger Labels

Some 50 million Americans reportedly aren-t just overweight, they-re obese. In just the past 20 years, the problem has doubled, costing the country some $70 billion a year in medical bills alone. The greatest increase is among children, which suggests a bleak future if something isn-t done soon. This Summer, both the food industry and the federal government announced new nutritional initiatives. Will smaller portions and bigger labels make for a healthier diet? Are the recent proposals a formula for a healthier society or a recipe for consumer confusion? In this archived edition of To the Point, we speak with a food writer, nutrition professionals and a representative of the food industry about trans fats, heart attacks, advertising and government regulation. (This segment was originally broadcast July 15.) Making News: Achieving Social Change through Soap Operas AIDS is ravaging parts of the world where even discussing sex is traditionally taboo. Yet even in poverty stricken areas, there is access to TV. In November, Population Communications International hosted the Soap Opera Summit in Los Angeles, with writing and production teams from Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, South America and the Middle East. Actor David Dennis, who appears in the South African soap opera, Soul City, says entertainment is proving effective in promoting social change. (This segment was originally broadcast November 11.) Reporter's Notebook: The Holy Warrior President Bush once said September 11 should inspire a -crusade- against terrorism. Though he quickly retracted what was seen as inflammatory language to Muslims, he then assigned the job of tracking and eliminating Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein to Army Lt. Gen. William Boykin, an outspoken evangelical Christian. Is the Pentagon sending the wrong message to the Muslim world? Military affairs analyst William Arkin is a columnist for the Washington Post. (This segment was originally broadcast October 16.)