Access to Healthy Beverages
Action steps to increase access to healthy food in the state include:
Ensure that all communities within the state have access to safe, clean drinking water.
Safe, clean drinking water is not always available in rural communities or communities with dilapidated water systems. States can ensure that residence have access to safe, clean drinking water by providing funding to communities to upgrade their water supply systems.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Drinking Water From Private Wells and Risks to Children
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
- Institute of Medicine Report (IOM): Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
For more information: US Environmental Protection Agency
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Limit Access to Unhealthy Beverages
Action steps to limit unhealthy foods in the state include:
Prohibit sugar-sweetened beverages in schools.
Many schools allow the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages during the school day. States can mandate that school districts prohibit schools from allowing the sale of sugar-sweetened beverages.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Soft Drinks in Schools
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit – A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary
For more information: Alliance for a Healthier Generation
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Media Campaigns
Action steps to develop media campaigns in the state include:
Develop media campaigns to combat the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages and promote healthy beverages.
A statewide media campaign aimed at encouraging healthy beverage choices directed at children can encourage children to choose healthier beverage options.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Practitioners
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit – A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary
For more information: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) "Promoting Active Living: A Guide to Marketing and Communication"
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Prohibit soft drink companies from marketing in schools.
Cash-strapped schools often agree to marketing contracts with food and beverage manufacturers to help fund after school and sports programs. Limiting students' exposure to food marketing will encourage healthy eating behavior inside and outside of schools.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Soft Drinks in Schools
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
- Institute of Medicine Report (IOM): Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit – A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary
For more information: Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI)
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Change Relative Pricing
Action Steps Required
Implement a tax strategy to discourage consumption of beverages with minimal nutritional value.
States can tax sugar-sweetened beverages to increase state revenue while discouraging consumption of unhealthy options.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Dietary Recommendations for Children and Adolescents: A Guide for Practitioners
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF): Action Strategies Toolkit – A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary
For more information: Center for Science in the Public Interest
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Create incentive and recognition programs encouraging grocery and convenience stores to reduce point-of-sale marketing of calorie dense soft drinks.
Aside from financial incentives, states can recognize grocery and convenience stores that reduce point of sale marketing to consumers. This recognition can encourage consumers to choose grocery stores that encourage healthier options.
Recommended by:
- AAP Policy: Prevention of Pediatric Obesity
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States 1 / 21
- Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report: Local Actions to Prevent Childhood Obesity
- Robert Wood Johnson (RWJF) Foundation: Action Strategies Toolkit – A Guide for Local And State Leaders to Create Healthy Communities And Prevent Childhood Obesity Executive Summary
For more information: ChangeLab Solutions (fomerly Public Health Law and Policy)
Pediatricians are reminded that all state advocacy efforts should be coordinated with state AAP chapters. To connect with your state AAP chapter, please visit: http://www.aap.org/member/chapters/chaplist.cfm
Last Updated
03/15/2022
Source
American Academy of Pediatrics