Open Letter to Parents, Politicians and the Community,

THIS LETTER WAS WRITTEN TO ALERT YOU TO A PUBLIC HEALTH EPIDEMIC THAT PUTS YOUR CHILD AT RISK.

Childhood obesity affects potentially every family in the United States. The percentage of overweight and obese children has steadily grown over the past several decades and threatens to endanger the lives of countless Americans.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention:

"The percentage of children and adolescents who are defined as overweight has more than doubled since the early 1970s, constituting a public health epidemic. Of children aged 5 to 15 who are overweight, 61% have one or more cardiovascular disease risk factors, and 27% have two or more.

· The lives of our children depend on our ability to react to this issue. Kids are gaining weight because advertising by junk food companies dictates their food preferences and eating habits. They are exposed to these influences everywhere- on television, in sports arenas- and even in schools, where junk food is sold in vending machines around every corner.

· At a time when obesity-related illnesses are the second leading cause of death in the US, and the Surgeon General has declared a war on obesity, schools should no longer allow junk food on campuses. Any institution offering such food to children is guilty of contributing to the epidemic that threatens to kill over 300,000 people every year.

· Parents need to be educated about proper nutrition- but in addition, the community should provide support by offering all students fresh, healthy food options at affordable prices.

· The corporations that influence our government- and consequently our schools- are creating a school environment that promotes consumption of junk food. By placing vending machines in schools and ads nearby, they are putting profit ahead of children's health. Some schools even have fast food restaurants like PIZZA HUT and TACO BELL present on campus. We must take back control of schools; we should not let corporate interests compromise our children's health. Only through balanced media messages, and community support can we reverse the damage done by profit-driven marketing.

WHAT IS THE GOVERNMENT DOING ABOUT THIS PROBLEM?

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson suggested, "It's time to get children, ladies and gentleman off of the couch and onto the playground… Surgeon General Satcher declared a theoretical "war on obesity" following his report on the obesity crisis… But despite all this lip service, THE GOVERNMENT CONTINUES TO DO NOTHING about the issue on a national or local level. Meanwhile, it allows corporate interests to have free reign over our youth. Not only does the US allow corporations to market junk to our kids without restriction, but our schools are now being forced to accept (and even rely on) corporate money -- through vending machines and ads -- in order to make up for poor government funding in education.

WHAT CAN WE DO, TO STOP THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC?

We need to provide support to children and adults on a community level, through free access, education and positive messages. To start, we must:

· Create safe parks outfitted with fitness equipment; as well as playgrounds, sidewalks and walking trails, particularly in inner cities.

· Communities should provide free gyms with instruction, just like there are libraries.

· Children, parents, and teachers must learn healthy lifestyle habits.

· Schools and communities need to offer equal access to health food as there is to junk food, so that children have the opportunity to choose healthier options.

· And, most immediately, WE MUST GET CORPORATIONS OUT OF OUR SCHOOLS. Parents have the power to influence school policy through organization, petition, and determination. There is no reason to stand by and let companies like COKE, PIZZA HUT, and MCDONALDS endanger our children's health within federal institutions supported by taxpayers' money.

We need to make these changes happen, NOW, in our own neighborhoods. Our children's future depends on it...

We are organizing parents and other concerned citizens to get this movement started, and implement these changes on a local --and eventually a national -- level. This can only happen with your participation. Please sign our petition by sending us an e-mail to let us know that you support these changes in your community. Cut and paste the following statement into the body of your message, filling in the blanks-- or write your own words -- and send:

To Whom it may concern,

As a taxpayer/parent/concerned citizen (choose one that best applies to you), I demand that:

· The corporate presence is taken out of our education system, by removing fast food outlets and advertising from public school campuses.
· Healthier options be offered to our children as an alternative to vending machine junk food, at equal or lower cost.
· Cafterias serve fresh, nutritious and appealing food, to promote proper health habits for our children.
· Health and fitness education be emphasized in the academic curriculum, in a non-competitive arena.

Signed,

Your Name

Your City, State

**********************************************

Let your voice be heard!

Thanks for your support.