Clinton Urges Governors To Address Obesity, Diabetes

Changing the U.S. culture of overeating and lack of exercise is the key to addressing rising obesity rates and health care costs, former President Bill Clinton said on Tuesday at the National Governors Association's annual meeting, the AP/Boston Globe reports. Clinton said obesity rates in children ages six through 19 are three times as high as they were 40 years ago, raising their risk for type 2 diabetes and other health conditions.

According to the AP/Globe, some governors have begun a multistate effort to share ideas on how to control the growth rate of obesity and diabetes. Clinton encouraged them to participate in his foundation's school-focused program that aims to improve the nutritional value of cafeteria and vending machine food, as well as increase physical activity and health education.

"We have a huge cultural problem, and, unless we change it, our children may grow up to be the first generation with shorter lifespans than we had," Clinton said (Tanner, AP/Boston Globe, 3/1).