More Thoughts on Tackling Obesity

I want to thank all the commentators for their insightful and excellent responses to my editorial on obesity. I agree with everything that was said including comments on how to create positive rewards (money) and negative conditioning (higher prices for high calorie junk foods) to assist in the battle against obesity. Our cafeteria here at the University Hospital is considering raising prices on unhealthy food choices in order to lower them on heart healthy selections. I also support the idea of a "sin" tax on high calorie junk food such as soft drinks that are loaded with one or another form of glucose. In the final analysis, education is going to be critical in this arena. We need to start teaching children about good nutritional choices in the very earliest school grades and continue the lessons right through high school and beyond. As the many respondents to the blog stated "We need to get serious about controlling obesity". Thanks again to all who wrote comments. Joseph Alpert, editor, AJM.