It Takes More Than A Village To Fight Diabetes

Filed in archive Views on May 23, 2006

In fact, many believe, it takes an entire society. One of the crucial elements in fighting and preventing--and perhaps even 'Curing'--Type 2 diabetes is to reduce the intake of non-nutritional food. However, as anyone who has ever dieted knows, this is much easier said than done. In a world filled with junk food and limited choices for busy people, what can we do to help?

Speaking at a national diabetes and obesity conference sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Francine Kaufman, director of the Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, said that on the surface, it seems simple enough to "get people back in energy balance" by matching calories taken in with those spent through physical activity.

"Nothing is fundamentally harder to do," she said. "This will involve some kind of strategy at every level of our lives," including communities, the medical system, workplace, schools, day care centers, the food industry and religious organizations, all promoting healthful activities.

What do you think? Should this fight be up to the individual, or should schools, restaurants, and other powerful institutions join the battle?

(Photo Source: PBS Kids)