DNC tackles childhood obesity

Melody Barnes, the Obama campaign's senior director of domestic policy, who spoke at a forum of The Obesity Society at the Democratic National Convention (DNC), has plans for attacking childhood obesity, but no mentions were made of advertising or marketing restrictions on "junk food," reports AgeAge.com. Congressional Democrats have frequently complained about such ads -- and have warned about some form of advertising regulation if marketers don't act. Barnes suggested an Obama administration would take a holistic approach toward childhood obesity that includes the possibility of greater federal funding for physical education, new programs to encourage health insurance companies to pay for preventative health care, more education about food choices and better school menus. She said the campaign has also not talked specifically about expanding federal advertising intended to promote a healthier lifestyle or healthy food choices to kids but said that doing so would be consistent with the campaign's view that the president could be making more use of the "bully pulpit." The Obesity Society is pushing both political parties to include obesity in their platforms. Monday's event at the Democratic convention will be followed next week by one at the GOP convention.