Harkin: Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation Goals Mirror those of Health Reform Preventon/Wellness Efforts

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) today issued the following statement on the launch of the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundation. Harkin is Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee.

“The coming together of this unprecedented coalition of retailers, non-governmental organizations and food and beverage manufacturers shows that we are united in our effort to combat childhood obesity. And this coalition could not have formed at a more critical time. Obesity is not only threatening our children’s health, but the health of our economy as well. Chronic disease management accounts for 75 percent of our health care spending in America.

“In health reform, my aim is to recreate America as a genuine wellness society – a society focused on healthful lifestyles and preventing the chronic diseases that take such a toll on our bodies and our budgets.
We do this by removing the barriers to a healthy lifestyle at all levels – the federal, clinical and community levels; similarly to the Healthy Weight Commitment Foundations’ targeted three critical areas – the marketplace, the workplace and schools. Our goal is the same: reduce chronic disease and rein in the high cost of health care in America.

“I applaud the Foundation for their efforts and look forward to the improvements we will see as a result of their work.”