Larry Cohen, MSW, Prevention Institute, 265 29th Street, Oakland, CA 94611, 510-444-7738, larry@preventioninstitute.org

The elevation of obesity to a public health epidemic requires a strong public policy response. Changing current patterns of dietary behavior across the population will not be achieved through education and information alone. An emerging body of research is drawing links between the community environment and poor dietary behaviors. Lack of supermarkets, fast food, soda and supersizing are among the factors now associated with poor eating habits and/or overweight. The wide availability of relatively cheap high-fat, high-sugar foods is fed in part by an agricultural system which favors the production of ingredients for highly-processed foods over produce, whole grains, and other healthy foods. The recent success of numerous local advocacy efforts to rid schools of junk food and soda are the most visible sign of an emerging movement. These efforts are complemented by numerous community food projects aimed at increasing access to fresh, locally-produced food in schools and underserved communities. As the connections between the current food system and rising chronic disease rates becomes clearer, there is a tremendous potential to bring together the health sector and the sustainable agriculture sector to advocate for policies which will create a just, healthy, sustainable food system for all.

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