Think tank: America needs obesity czar

[mike_d]

The war on obesity?If you go back to 1991, only four states had obesity rates above 15 percent, and none exceeded 20 percent," said Levi. Levi says individuals need the government's help to take control of their weight.

Diabetes specialist Dr. Richard K. Bernstein worried that an obesity czar might lead the nation down the wrong path. The New York-based author of "Diabetes Solution," contends that the popularity of low-fat diets is related to the increase in diabetes and obesity. http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet.fitness/08/27/obesity.study/index.html

I vote for correct diet advice then more personal responsibility-- government can't do everything!

[Nancy LC]

Would lead the nation down the wrong path? Assuredly! The government has fouled us up enough when it comes to health policies. Senators just aren't smart enough to take all the scientific information in and come out with a reliable policy.

[LCivility]

We already suffer from too much politics and not enough science in nutrition. A czar would only make the problem worse. You can't legislate nutrition. McGovern tried it and look where that got us. Politicians are more easily bought off than nutritionists and research universities. And easier to fool.

[Zei]

Since reading reviews of Taube's new book and related stuff, I've become a lot more suspicious of anything the government especially and all those big-name "health" organizations upon seeing how truly unscientific the processes often are by which recommendations are created. I think the real obesity and health "czar" died in 2003 of a fall on the ice, and I'm glad to see others pick up where Dr. Atkins left off.

[JL53563]

Obesity czar? I'll do it!!! Where do I apply?