Questions/Issues

During the Summit, participants will take stock of the larger medical, social, economic, and political problems associated with obesity, share their own research, sharpen the definition of the issues and options, and seek agreement wherever possible. The group’s recommendations will be submitted to the Secretaries of DOE, USDA, and DHHS and to the President, in the form of a consensus report drafted by Summit participants. More specifically, the Summit is asked to address the following issues:

2006 Summit Issues

There is considerable debate about the role different foods play in the obesity problem as it is experienced within the U.S school-aged population. What foods or eating behaviors are most contributive to obesity-related health problems in schools, and what changes should be encouraged?
What changes, if any, should be made to the federally funded school meals program administered by the USDA? What changes, if any, should be made to current practices regarding the availability of other foods in schools?
Should food-related advertising and marketing in schools be restricted in any way? If so, please recommend appropriate changes, being mindful of financial trade-offs.
What is the appropriate role of school curricula and extra-curricular activities in combating obesity and nutrition problems?
What key messages should children receive about healthy eating and active lifestyles, in order to address the problem of obesity? What strategies would be effective in getting those messages across? Who is in charge of getting the message to the public?
What else, if anything, should be done within K-12 schools to help prevent and treat child and adolescent obesity-related problems?
What are the most pressing issues over the next 10 years and what, in order of priority, should government give incentive or underwrite with its limited research budget?

2005 Summit Issues

Issue #1 The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) periodically revises its “Food Pyramid” every five years in conjunction with the current state of knowledge about nutrition and healthy lifestyles. What changes, if any, should be made to the pyramid?

Issue #2 There is considerable debate about the role different foods play in the obesity problem as it is experienced by different sub-populations within the U.S. What foods or eating behaviors are most contributive to obesity-related health problems and what changes should be encouraged?

Issue #3 Should food-related advertising and marketing to children be restricted in any way? Is it realistic to do so? If so, please recommend how. If not, please respond as to what should be done in the alternative.

Issue #4 The U.S. government creates incentives (subsidies, tax credits) and disincentives (labeling, stringent rules and regulations) in the food marketplace. What, if anything, should be changed by government?

Issue #5 What, if anything, should be done within K-12 schools to help prevent or solve child and adolescent obesity-related problems?

Issue #6 What are the most pressing research issues over the next 10 years and what, in order of priority, should government incentivize or underwrite with its limited research budget?

Issue #7 What key messages should children receive about healthy eating and active lifestyles, in order to address the problem of obesity? What strategies will be effective in getting those messages across?

Issue #8 Any other recommendations you might make for federal, state, and local government.