YMCA Pressured to Ban Junk Food and End Partnership with PepsiCo
New York, NY (PRWEB) April 14, 2008 -- As America's population of overweight is projected to reach 75% by 2015, with 30 to 40 percent of today's children projected to develop diet-related diabetes in their lifetimes, with today's children given a projected lesser life expectancy than their parents, with the cost of obesity escalating above $100 billion annually, with The Conference Board reporting obesity costing employers $45 billion (http://www.conference-board.org/utilities/pressDetail.cfm?press_ID=3365) annually, with the most crucial step in reversing obesity being prevention among America's youngest children, National Action Against Obesity (NAAO) launched a year-long campaign to expel junk food from all U.S. day care, child care and preschool centers, beginning with the nation's largest provider of child care services, the YMCA of the USA. The campaign kicks-off timed to the YMCA's annual "Healthy Kids Day."
The petition (http://www.petitiononline.com/YMCAFood/petition.html) already has been signed by the nation's most highly respected doctors, researchers and experts in child obesity including Dr. Walter Willett of Harvard, Dr. David Katz of Yale, Dr. Barry Popkin of UNC, Dr. Melissa Glassman of Columbia, and Dr. Ruby Natale of University of Miami, as well as Legendary Actor, Comedian and Nutrition Advocate Chevy Chase (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sZ-1O4HdYes). Now open for signature by the public, the petition recognizes the many wonderful things the YMCA does on behalf of children and their families, but makes two requests:
1- End the YMCA of the USA's partnership with PepsiCo (http://www.ymca.net/about_the_ymca/press_release_20060308_pepsico.html) upon its expiration in 2010. While the YMCA's "Healthy Kids Day" and "Activate America" campaigns are worthy initiatives, having one the world's largest suppliers of soft drinks and foods of low nutritional value fund the events introduces a conflict of interest.
2- Commit to the long-term elimination of "junk food" at all YMCA childcare centers including food offered from on-site kitchens, vending machines and meal programs. Reversing America's obesity crisis will take a multitude of compromises and new considerations. Of particular emphasis will be America's youngest children ages 0-5, (http://www.cumc.columbia.edu/news/press_releases/Melissa_Glassman-Obese_Children.html) as their body composition, eating patterns and exercise habits are not yet set. Promoting and serving fried food, refined rather than whole grains and those foods containing substances potentially harmful to health (including partially hydrogenated oil, high concentrations of sugar and high fructose corn syrup, high sodium content, nitrites, MSG, synthetic hormones, antibiotics, artificial colors and artificial sweeteners), undermines the health of the very children entrusted to the YMCA's care and contradicts the YMCA of the USA's own mission statement.
"Make no mistake. This letter is addressed to Neil Nicoll of the YMCA, but it's really a letter to KinderCare, The Goddard School, Bright Horizons, Crème de la Crème, Kiddie Academy, The Learning Experience, Tutor Time, and all of America's preschools, day care centers and child care facilities," said Nutrition Counselor and NAAO President MeMe Roth (http://www.memeroth.net). "The best time to prevent obesity is in the earliest years (http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=361) before it takes hold of our children. Junk food in a child care environment benefits no one other than junk food marketers. Children in day care centers deserve wholesome food, and a chance to grow up healthy. Without health, there is no pursuit of happiness."
About NAAO (http://www.actionagainstobesity.com)
Our 2 main goals for 2008 are to 1) Draw attention to the need for daycare centers to be 100% free of junk food. 0-5 year olds deserve environments full of healthy options, not marketing venues for junk food producers. 2) Urge parents and restaurants to refrain from serving Soft Drinks to children (http://www.cspinet.org/liquidcandy/index.html). Not only connected to obesity and diabetes, soft drinks, sports drinks and energy drinks are linked to tooth decay, concentration problems and osteoporosis."
On a larger scale, NAAO has three main goals...plus 1: Expelling junk food from schools, Eliminating obesity- and disease-accelerating substances from the food supply, and breaking the obesity cycle. The "plus 1" is encouraging exercise across all ages.
About MeMe Roth Nutrition Counseling
MeMe Roth, partnered with board certified psychologists specializing in eating issues, offers wellness programs, speaking engagements and counseling services for businesses, schools, corporate executives, families and elite students interested in making food choices to optimize performance, mood and weight. By referral only.
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