The Elephant in the room

[shootingstar]

And the kicker is that a lot of the stuff being discussed here doesn't even have to (and often shouldn't) be done by the government! Sure, things like changing the infrastructure and agricultural policies will require government intervention, but incentives for healthy habits can be provided by employers and insurance companies. Education about exercise (including safe cycling), healthy eating and as Medianox said, about what good health is and how the body works can be carried out by other organizations and individual health workers (I happen to be a nurse as well, and working on becoming a nurse practitioner).

Designing communities with neighbourhoods, transportation infrastructure and services that encourage more use of non-car transportation should be encouraged...as one piece of the whole big solution.

Nothing wrong with incentives by employers and other organizations to encourage healthy habits and lifestyles, but...real long lasting change also must begin early in life and at home, with parents/at home where eating habit, activities and diet have a profound influence on children's foundational health ...for their future.

It is hard work and patience here that demands serious dedication and consistency by parents and other adults to provide to children reasonably healthy food day after day, week after week, year after year and finds ways to encourage them to eat it.