With another holiday just around the
corner, a stern warning is coming from
the nation's top health officials about
our eating habits.
The deaths from obesity related causes.
Now top three hundred thousand cases
per year.
Three hundred thousand cases.
And the economic cost topped one hundred
and seventeen billion dollars last year.
The surgeon general says those alarming
numbers mean it's time to launch the same
attack on fat.
The nation declared on smoking.
If we fail to take action now,
overweight and obesity may soon cause
as much preventable disease and death
as cigaret smoking.
Today, among the strategies, reviving
physical education in schools,
overhauling school lunches and
building more playgrounds.
We're talking about choices.
We're talking about balance.
We're not talking about quick fix diets.
We're talking about lifestyle that can
last a lifetime.
Health officials say the food industry
should also promote healthier choices,
including a reasonable portion sizes.
Just get on the run for 30
minutes a day and lose 15 pounds.
And we can reduce diabetes
by 50 percent.