TITLE
Recommendation to request City Attorney and Department of Health and Human Services to draft an ordinance requiring all restaurants within Long Beach who have bundled Kid's Meals to offer water, milk or a 100% pure juice beverage that is under 60 calories as the "default" choice.
DISCUSSION
Background
Over the past 30 years, obesity rates in the U.S. have more than doubled. Approximately one-third of U.S. children are overweight or obese (American Medical Association, 2014). In Long Beach, 40.7 percent of children are overweight or obese and nearly half of Long Beach fifth graders are obese. These rates are higher than both LA County and the State of California. Obesity is more common in underserved neighborhoods with less access to healthy food options. Research shows that 40% of low-income 2-5-year-old kids in Long Beach are overweight or obese.
Sugary beverages contribute greatly to a child's risk of obesity. For each additional serving of sugary beverages a child drinks per day, their risk of becoming obese increases by 60% (Harvard School of Public Health) and the chance of severe cavities increases by 140%. Sugary drinks are the largest source of sugar in the American Diet and the largest source of calories in children's diets, making up nearly half of children's sugar intake. In Long Beach, nearly 50% of children consume at least one sugary beverage per day.
I. Other problems that come from obesity
Studies show that obese children are more than twice as likely to become obese adults. Obesity increases the risk of other serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, osteoarthritis, high blood pressure, sleep apnea, certain cancers, low self-esteem, multiple organ dysfunction, depression, and more.
II. Obesity costs taxpayers dollars
It is estimated that 21 percent of annual healthcare costs nationwide, or $190 billion are related to overweight and obesity-related health conditions. In Los Angeles County alone, overweig...
Click here for full text