12/31/02

LC021231

VAL ZAVALA>> TONIGHT ON A SPECIAL LIFE AND TIMES --

THE BIGGEST THREAT TO AMERICA’S CHILDREN. IT’S NOT SOME PREDATOR LURKING IN THE SHADOWS. IT’S FOOD AND TOO MUCH OF IT.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE FUN OF ME WHEN I LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SEAT WOULD SQUEAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY’D SAY, “HEY, FAT BOY, WHY ARE YOU MAKING SO MUCH NOISE?” EVEN THE TEACHERS SEEMED TO BE LIKE A LITTLE BIT LEANING TOWARDS SKINNIER PEOPLE AND I WAS FEELING THAT.

VAL>> HOW CAN WE SAVE OUR KIDS FROM OVEREATING? IT’S THE HEALTH CRISIS MOST GROWNUPS DON’T UNDERSTAND. TONIGHT A LOOK AT WHY SO MANY CHILDREN ARE TIPPING THE SCALES AND WHY IT’S BECOMING A NATIONAL HEALTH CRISIS, NEXT ON A SPECIAL LIFE AND TIMES.

LIFE AND TIMES TONIGHT IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE FOLLOWING FOUNDATIONS:

THE L.K. WHITTIER FOUNDATION
DEDICATED TO IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE BY SUPPORTING INNOVATIVE ENDEAVORS IN THE FIELDS OF MEDICINE, HEALTH, SCIENCE AND EDUCATION.

AND THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT
THE STATE'S LARGEST HEALTH FOUNDATION SUPPORTING ORGANIZATIONS THAT DIRECTLY IMPROVE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CALIFORNIA'S DIVERSE COMMUNITIES. THE CALIFORNIA ENDOWMENT, A PARTNER FOR HEALTHIER COMMUNITIES.

VAL>> GOOD EVENING, I’M VAL ZAVALA.

YOU MAY RECALL A TIME WHEN BEING FORCED TO CLEAN YOUR PLATE SEEMED LIKE THE SEVEREST FORM OF PUNISHMENT, BUT TONIGHT YOU’RE ABOUT TO MEET SOME KIDS WHO NEED NO ENCOURAGEMENT WHEN IT COMES TO EATING. IN FACT, FOOD HAS BECOME THEIR ENEMY. THEY’RE OVERWEIGHT AND THEY HAVE BEGUN TO SUFFER AN ASSORTMENT OF GROWNUP PROBLEMS, SUCH AS DIABETES, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND EVEN HEART DISEASE. AS GAY YEE REPORTS, THAT’S THE PROBLEM OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY AND IT CAN DAMAGE MORE THAN A YOUNGSTER’S SELF-ESTEEM.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> LET’S SEE HOW MUCH I WEIGH TODAY.

GAY YEE>> THE MORNING WEIGH-IN. EVERY TIME FIFTEEN-YEAR-OLD MICHAEL MARCELLO GETS ON THE SCALE, HE CRINGES.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> 237. WAYS TO GO.

GAY YEE>> AT OVER TWO HUNDRED POUNDS, THIS ISN’T BABY FAT.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> IT’S REALLY HARD TO LOSE WEIGHT EVEN THOUGH IT’S SO EASY TO GAIN WEIGHT. IT’S LIKE IF YOU GAIN ONE POUND, IT TAKES LIKE A WEEK JUST TO TAKE THAT OFF AND IT’S VERY DIFFICULT.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL MARCELLO IS LIKE A LOT OF YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE GOTTEN SWEPT UP IN ONE OF AMERICA’S FASTEST GROWING EPIDEMICS: CHILDHOOD OBESITY. IN JUST THE LAST TWENTY YEARS, THE NUMBER OF SERIOUSLY OVERWEIGHT CHILDREN IN THE U.S. HAVE DOUBLED. AMONG ADOLESCENTS, IT’S TRIPLED. AND IF YOU WONDER HOW THIS COULD HAPPEN, JUST TAKE A LOOK AT THE TYPICAL AMERICAN DIET.

OUR GREAT-GRANDPARENTS WOULD BARELY RECOGNIZE WHAT WE EAT AND HOW MUCH OF IT WE EAT AND THEY’D SURELY NEVER UNDERSTAND WHERE WE EAT IT. THAT’S HOW MUCH THE COUNTRY’S DIET HAS CHANGED OVER THE PAST CENTURY. AND IT DOESN’T JUST LOOK DIFFERENT. TODAY’S FOOD IS DIFFERENT. MUCH OF IT IS HIGHLY PROCESSED, NUTRIENTS GET LEECHED OUT WHILE FATS, SUGARS AND SODIUM GET ADDED. THE RESULT? TODAY’S FOOD TYPICALLY HAS MORE CALORIES PER BITE THAN IT DID GENERATIONS AGO.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> THIS WOULD BE MY NORMAL MEAL FROM IN-N-OUT. SHAKE, FRIES AND A HAMBURGER.

GAY YEE>> ALL OF WHICH ONLY ADDS TO HIS HEALTH PROBLEMS AND UNDERMINES HIS SELF-ESTEEM WHEN HE’S AT SCHOOL.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> YOU KNOW, THEY MAKE FUN OF ME WHEN I LIKE, YOU KNOW, THE SEAT WOULD SQUEAK OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT. THEY’D SAY, “HEY, FAT BOY, WHY ARE YOU MAKING SO MUCH NOISE?” EVEN THE TEACHERS SEEMED TO BE LIKE A LITTLE BIT LEANING TOWARDS SKINNIER PEOPLE AND I WAS FEELING THAT.

GAY YEE>> BUT IT’S NOT JUST BRUISED EGOS EXPERTS ARE WORRIED ABOUT. DOCTORS POINT TO THE MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS THAT OFTEN ACCOMPANY OBESITY, SLEEP APNEA, ASTHMA, HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND SOMETHING THAT WAS ALMOST UNHEARD OF AMONG YOUNGSTERS JUST A FEW YEARS AGO, TYPE II DIABETES.

DR. FRANCINE KAUFMAN>> THIS IS A MUCH, MUCH MORE PREVALENT ISSUE THAN IT EVER WAS BEFORE. IN ABOUT 1992 AND 1994, MOST OF US WOULD SAY AT THE MOST FIVE PERCENT OF OUR PATIENTS HAD TYPE II DIABETES. NOW WE’RE LOOKING AT OUR OWN CENTER ONE IN FOUR CHILDREN DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES NOW.

GAY YEE>> THE FOOD INDUSTRY SPENDS $36 BILLION DOLLARS A YEAR ON ADVERTISING, MUCH OF IT AIMED AT CHILDREN, BOMBARDING THEM WITH MESSAGES TO EAT, EAT, EAT. AND WHEN THEY DO, SOME GET IN TROUBLE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> WE WENT TO THE DOCTOR IN JUNE AND I TOLD THEM MICHAEL’S NOW APPROACHING 250. I’M SCARED. I DO NOT WANT MY CHILD DYING ON ME.

>> HOW MANY OF YOU KNOW WHAT TYBO IS?

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL’S DOCTOR REFERRED THE FAMILY TO KIDSHAPE.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> KIDSHAPE IS A FAMILY-BASED PEDIATRIC WEIGHT MANAGEMENT PROGRAM.

GAY YEE>> IT’S AN EIGHT-WEEK TREATMENT PROGRAM SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED TO HELP OBESE CHILDREN LOSE WEIGHT.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> THESE CHILDREN ARE REFERRED TO US WHEN THEY ARE GREATER THAN TWO HUNDRED POUNDS. THE PROBLEM REALLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT A LONG TIME AGO.

>> AT KIDSHAPE, OUR FOOD GUIDE PYRAMID IS A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT.

GAY YEE>> THERE’S HELP FROM REGISTERED DIETICIANS --

>> SOME OF YOU GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE OF WHAT MIGHT BE A REALLY GOOD GOAL FOR EXERCISE.

GAY YEE>> -- MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS AND EVEN FITNESS TEACHERS. AND THERE IS ONE KEY REQUIREMENT. THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS TO PARTICIPATE.

CHRISTIANNE WERT>> IT’S CRITICAL THAT THE ENTIRE FAMILY ADOPTS HEALTHIER LIFESTYLES BECAUSE A CHILD IS NOT GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL IF THEY ARE TRYING TO EAT HEALTHIER, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IN THE FAMILY IS NOT.

JENNY MARCELLO>> AND AFTER WORKING WITH HIM BY MYSELF, THEN IT BECAME THE PARENT-CHILD CONFRONTATION.

GAY YEE>> AT THE BEGINNING OF THE EIGHT WEEKS, JENNY MARCELLO TOLD THE OTHER PARENTS HER YEARS OF TRYING TO HELP MICHAEL HAD GONE NOWHERE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> I COULD SEE HIM GROWING AND GROWING AND HE COULDN’T SEE HIMSELF GAINING THAT WEIGHT. WHEN HE SURPASSED MY WEIGHT AND HE WAS YOUNGER THAN ME, I SAID, OH, WHAT IS HAPPENING HERE? I’M REALLY OUT OF CONTROL.

GAY YEE>> JENNY WAS TOLD TO GIVE UP CONTROL AND INSTEAD BECOME MORE OF A CHEERLEADER AND COACH. HER BIGGEST CHALLENGE? GETTING MICHAEL OUT THE DOOR FOR A 3.8 MILE WALK EVERY DAY.

[FILM CLIP]

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL PROBABLY WOULDN’T HAVE BEEN THIS SUCCESSFUL HAD IT NOT BEEN A TEAM EFFORT. THE WHOLE FAMILY GOT WITH THE PROGRAM, ADOPTING NOT JUST HEALTHIER EATING HABITS, BUT ALSO A HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

JENNY MARCELLO>> SO WE’VE GOT CANTALOUPE, BLACKBERRIES, APPLES, BROCCOLI....

GAY YEE>> THE WHOLE FAMILY IS CHANGING ITS HABITS, ESPECIALLY AT THE SUPERMARKET. NOW THEY BUY FRESH FOOD AND SPEND A LOT LESS TIME IN THE AISLE WITH THE FROZEN MICROWAVE MEALS.

JENNY MARCELLO>> AND YOU HAVE TO REALLY READ THE LABELS WHICH WE LEARNED AT KIDSHAPE THAT IF YOU READ THE LABEL NOW, YOU COMPARE THE CALORIES TO THE FAT CALORIES. THERE’S ONLY 240 CALORIES IN HERE, BUT OF THAT, IT’S 45 FAT CALORIES.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL’S DAD, SONNY, IS THE COOK IN THE HOUSE. FOOD IS PREPARED AHEAD. IT’S JUST AS CONVENIENT AS THE PROCESSED PRE-PACKAGED STUFF THE BUSY FAMILY USED TO EAT, BUT WITHOUT ALL THE CALORIES.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> SO I START OUT MEASURING ONE CUP OF RICE. I ACTUALLY PREPARE MY OWN LUNCHES FOR SCHOOL THAT ARE LIKE COMPOSED OF VEGETABLES, CHICKEN, RICE AND FRUIT.

GAY YEE>> THE CHANGES IN DIET AND LIFESTYLE ARE PAYING OFF. IN JUST EIGHT WEEKS, MICHAEL HAS LOST NEARLY TWENTY POUNDS.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> FINALLY NOW, AFTER ALL THIS STRUGGLE, I FINALLY HAVE FOUND A WAY TO GET SOMETHING WHERE I CAN ACTUALLY BEGIN TO CHANGE MYSELF.

GAY YEE>> MICHAEL HAS LEARNED LESSONS ABOUT FOOD THE HARD WAY, BUT HE SAYS HIS PERSONAL PAYBACK ISN’T WHAT HE SEES ON THE SCALE. IT’S WHAT HE HEARS NOW AT SCHOOL.

MICHAEL MARCELLO>> NOW I’M ACTUALLY CHANGING AND PEOPLE SEE IT AND THEY REALIZE THAT I AM REALLY TRYING AND THEY RESPECT ME FOR THAT.

VAL>> AS YOU JUST SAW, PART OF MICHAEL’S CHALLENGE IS BREAKING FREE OF THE WRONG FOODS, ESPECIALLY THE KIND YOU GET AT A DRIVE-THROUGH WINDOW. BUT IT ISN’T EASY, ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU CONSIDER THAT MANY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE ACTUALLY IN THE FAST-FOOD BUSINESS. TONIGHT GAY YEE CONTINUES OUR LOOK AT WHY SOME SCHOOLS JUST CAN’T SAY NO TO JUNK FOOD.

GAY YEE>> DROP BY MOST ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL AND YOU’LL SOON DISCOVER THE FOOD ISN’T WHAT IT USED TO BE. PIZZA, SODA, CHIPS, IT’S A MECCA FOR JUNK FOOD.

>> THIS IS WHAT WE EAT FOR LUNCH BECAUSE EVERYTHING ELSE IS GREASY AND DISGUSTING.

GAY YEE>> BUT WHY IS THERE SO MUCH JUNK IN THE HIGH SCHOOL?

>> I DON’T KNOW. KIDS LIKE IT.

GAY YEE>> KIDS LIKE IT, THEY BUY IT AND SCHOOLS MAKE MONEY FROM IT, LOTS OF MONEY. SOME SCHOOLS TAKE IN AS MUCH AS $80,000 A YEAR FROM THE SALE OF SODA AND SNACKS. IT’S MONEY THAT CAN BE USED FOR RALLIES, DANCES, UNIFORMS AND AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITIES. THAT’S THE UP SIDE, BUT HERE’S THE DOWN SIDE. CONSIDER THIS: THIS IS A TWENTY-OUNCE BOTTLE OF REGULAR SODA. EACH ONE OF THESE AVERAGES ABOUT SIXTEEN TEASPOONS OF SUGAR. THAT’S 250 CALORIES. IF YOU DRINK ONE OF THESE EVERY DAY ON TOP OF YOUR REGULAR DIET, YOU CAN GAIN AS MUCH AS TWENTY-SIX POUNDS WITHIN A YEAR.

JACKIE DOMAC>> TODAY WE’RE JUST GOING TO BE FOCUSING MOSTLY ON FAT AND CHOLESTEROL.

GAY YEE>> VENICE HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH TEACHER JACKIE DOMAC HAS SEEN MORE POUNDS PILE ONTO MORE YOUNGSTERS THAN SHE CAN COUNT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WHAT’S REALLY SAD, I HAVE FRESHMEN IN MY HEALTH CLASSES AND I SEE THEM COME IN, MOST OF THEM FAIRLY THIN. BY THE TIME THEY’RE DONE WITH HIGH SCHOOL, THEY’VE JUST BALLOONED AND I ALMOST DON’T EVEN RECOGNIZE THEM AND I REALLY THINK A LOT OF IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SODA AND JUNK FOOD.

GAY YEE>> OVER THE PAST TWENTY YEARS, THE NUMBER OF OVERWEIGHT ADOLESCENTS IN AMERICA HAS TRIPLED. BY ANY MEASURE, CHILDHOOD OBESITY IS NOW AN EPIDEMIC. THREE YEARS AGO, A STUDENT ASKED JACKIE DOMAC WHY THERE WAS NO ONE HUNDRED PERCENT JUICE IN THE SCHOOL VENDING MACHINES. GOOD QUESTION, SO SHE ASKED ADMINISTRATORS AND SHE WAS STUNNED BY THE ANSWER.

JACKIE DOMAC>> SO I PUT A LITTLE NOTE IN THE FINANCIAL MANAGER’S MAILBOX, GOT A NOTE BACK THE NEXT DAY WHICH SAID, SORRY, CAN’T SELL IT, IT WOULD CONFLICT WITH OUR EXCLUSIVE SODA CONTRACT.

GAY YEE>> WERE THE KIDS REALLY BEING DENIED FRUIT JUICE JUST BECAUSE A HUGE SODA MAKER SAID SO? YOU BET.

JACKIE DOMAC>> THERE IS A LARGE FEAR THAT WE’RE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF WE DON’T SELL SODA AND JUNK FOOD ON CAMPUS. THE IRONY IS, IT WAS NEVER THE RESPONSIBILITY OF OUR STUDENTS TO SUBSIDIZE THEIR PUBLIC EDUCATION IN THE FIRST PLACE. WE’RE IN A REALLY SAD SITUATION IF WE’RE RELYING ON THEIR POCKET CHANGE TO RUN A SCHOOL.

GAY YEE>> THE SODA COMPANY GAVE VENICE HIGH $3,000 A YEAR FOR THE EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO SELL ITS PRODUCTS ON CAMPUS AND VENICE HIGH GOT A PERCENTAGE ON EVERY BOTTLE OR CAN SOLD. SCHOOLS ALL OVER THE COUNTRY HAVE BEEN MAKING SIMILAR DEALS FOR YEARS, BUT THAT’S ABOUT TO CHANGE IN THE L.A. UNIFIED DISTRICT. THE SCHOOL BOARD RECENTLY VOTED TO BAN ALL SODA SALES ON CAMPUSES BY THE YEAR 2004.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WELL, HERE WE HAVE AN EXAMPLE OF A COKE MACHINE. WE HAVE LOTS OF THEM. THE SODA HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT...

GAY YEE>> SODA HAS ALREADY DISAPPEARED FROM VENICE HIGH ALONG WITH THE WORST OF THE JUNK FOOD OFFENDERS. DOMAC MANAGED TO GET A STATE GRANT THAT PROMOTES HEALTHY EATING. IT ALLOWED THE SCHOOL TO IMPLEMENT THE BAN EARLY. IN THE MEANTIME, THERE’S A PUSH TO CHANGE OLD EATING HABITS. ON THIS PARTICULAR LUNCH TIME AT VENICE HIGH, DOMAC’S TEAM OF STUDENT HEALTH ADVOCATES ARE SETTING UP A TASTE TEST.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> HI, I AM HERE TO PROMOTE HEALTHY FOOD ON CAMPUS. JUST GIVE THEM AN IDEA OF WHAT COULD BE SOLD ON CAMPUS.

>> THIS IS GOOD, MAN.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WOULD YOU BUY THIS IF IT WAS ON CAMPUS?

>> NO.

>> IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WATER.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> IT DOESN’T LOOK LIKE WATER?

>> NO, NO. YOU CAN WRITE THAT DOWN, NO.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> DO YOU LIKE IT?

>> YEAH.

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WOULD YOU BUY IT IF IT WAS ON CAMPUS?

>> INSTEAD OF SODA?

ARCHANO PRASAD>> WE’RE JUST EDUCATING THEM TO MAKE A BETTER CHOICE IN LIFE. I KNOW WE CAN’T FEED THEM, WE CAN’T PUT IT IN THEIR MOUTH. IT’S THEIR CHOICE, BUT THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS PROMOTE IT AND THE LEAST WE CAN DO IS, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HAND IT TO THEM AND SAY, PLEASE, CAN YOU TRY THIS?

GAY YEE>> IF HEALTHY EATING DEVELOPS A FOLLOWING HERE, IT CAN SUCCEED ANYWHERE AND JACKIE DOMAC SAYS THE BIG FOOD CORPORATIONS KNOW IT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WE HAVE LOTS OF COKE MACHINES ON CAMPUS RIGHT NOW, BUT THERE’S NO SODA IN THEM. THE PROBLEM IS, WE NEED TO GET THOSE MACHINES OUT AND GET THE NEW VENDORS IN WHO HAVE HEALTHY PRODUCTS.

GAY YEE>> SOME SAY THE SODA COMPANY IS DRAGGING ITS FEET ON PURPOSE. JACKIE BELIEVES THEY’VE DELIBERATELY LEFT THE OLD VENDING MACHINES AND KEPT THEM UNDER-STOCKED FOR A REASON.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I BELIEVE THEY’RE TRYING TO SABOTAGE US. ALL OF L.A. UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT IS LOOKING AT VENICE HIGH SCHOOL TO SEE IF WE CAN BE SUCCESSFUL FINANCIALLY WITHOUT SODA. IF WE HAVE ALL THESE MACHINES SITTING HERE HALF EMPTY, WE’RE NOT GOING TO BE FINANCIALLY SUCCESSFUL AND THEY KNOW THAT. PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW THEY SABOTAGE EVERYTHING. NO KIDDING. I MEAN, THE WATER SELLS OUT FIRST, THEY DON’T REPLACE THAT, THE JUICE GOES FIRST, THEY DON’T REPLACE THAT. LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT THIS MACHINE DOWN HERE.

GAY YEE>> SO DOMAC IS DECLARING WAR AND IS ENLISTING STUDENTS AS HER INFANTRY.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I SEE A LOT OF KIDS, MOSTLY IMPOVERISHED, WHO PEOPLE HAVE LOOKED THE OTHER WAY WHEN IT COMES TO THEIR HEALTH. THEY’VE PUT THE BUCK ABOVE GOOD NUTRITION AND THAT’S REALLY SAD.

GAY YEE>> IT’S TIME TO SAY GOODBYE TO EMPTY CALORIES AND HELLO TO HEALTHY CHOICES. DOMAC SAYS THE SODA WAR IS JUST THE BEGINNING AND NOT ONE THAT SHE’LL ALLOW TO FIZZLE OUT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> MY STUDENTS ARE GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. EDUCATION IS GOING TO MAKE THE CHANGE. THEY’RE GOING TO REALIZE WHAT’S GOING ON AND THEY’RE GOING TO CONTINUE TO FIGHT. YOU KNOW, AS THEY SAY, IF THE PEOPLE LEAD, THE LEADERS WILL FOLLOW AND I BELIEVE THAT.

VAL>> A FEW SCHOOL DISTRICTS SUCH AS L.A. UNIFIED ARE BANNING THE SALE OF SODAS ON CAMPUS, BUT AS YOU SAW, THAT’S JUST THE TIP OF THE JUNK FOOD ICEBERG. ON THAT NOTE, JESS AND I SPOKE WITH DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN. HE’S HEAD OF THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY, A NONPROFIT GROUP THAT WORKS FOR BETTER CHILDHOOD NUTRITION.

JESS>> DOCTOR, IT’S A GREAT IDEA, BUT IF THE KIDS DON’T EAT THAT, IF THEY DON’T BUY THAT, WHAT HAPPENS?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THERE’S A FEAR THAT SCHOOLS ARE GOING TO LOSE A LOT OF MONEY IF THEY DON’T SELL THIS STUFF. BUT THE TRUTH IS, STUDENTS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA WANT TO EAT HEALTHY FOODS AND SCHOOLS THAT HAVE DONE THIS, THAT HAVE BANNED JUNK FOOD AND ARE SELLING HEALTHY MEALS -- FOLSOM CORDOVA SCHOOL DISTRICT IS A GREAT MODEL UP IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY’RE MAKING MORE MONEY THAN EVER BECAUSE STUDENTS ARE EATING THESE WHOLE MEALS THAT ARE HEALTHY RATHER THAN INDIVIDUAL JUNK FOODS AND BEVERAGES ON CAMPUS.

VAL>> THIS SEEMS LIKE SUCH A NO-BRAINER TO ME. IT’S AMAZING THAT THE STATE HASN’T JUST, YOU KNOW, PASSED STATEWIDE ON EVERY CAMPUS IN CALIFORNIA NO JUNK FOOD.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, WE TRIED TO DO THAT LAST YEAR, ACTUALLY. MARTHA ESCUTIA AUTHORED SB 19. ORIGINALLY, THAT BILL WAS GOING TO DO EXACTLY THAT. BAN ALL JUNK FOOD, ALL HIGHLY-SWEETENED SODAS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA AND IT WAS WATERED DOWN. UNFORTUNATELY, IT WILL ONLY APPLY TO ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS BEGINNING JANUARY 2004. IT’S A GOOD FIRST STEP.

JESS>> AND WHO WERE THE LOBBYISTS THAT GOT IT DILUTED?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT WHO SUPPORTED AND WHO OPPOSED THAT BILL, IT WAS VERY INTERESTING. THOSE WHO SUPPORTED WERE ALMOST ALL THE HEALTH ORGANIZATIONS, THE TEACHERS ORGANIZATION, THE CTA WAS A BIG SUPPORTER, THE PTA WAS A BIG SUPPORTER. THOSE WHO OPPOSED WERE THE SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND THE MANUFACTURERS.

VAL>> SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS BECAUSE THEY HAVE TO DEAL WITH MONEY PROBLEMS.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THEY WERE SCARED THAT THEY WERE GOING TO LOSE MONEY, BUT AS YOU CAN SEE FROM THAT PIECE, WHAT JACKIE DOMAC HAS SHOWN WAS VENICE HIGH SCHOOL WAS ONLY GOING TO BE GETTING $3,000 FOR THAT CONTRACT. THIS IS A WIN-WIN TO PUT HEALTHY FOODS AND BEVERAGES IN SCHOOLS. SCHOOLS WILL STILL MAKE THE MONEY BECAUSE STUDENTS WILL STILL BE BUYING PRODUCTS AND MANUFACTURERS WILL STILL BE MAKING MONEY, BUT INSTEAD THEY’LL BE MAKING MONEY ON HEALTHY PRODUCTS.

JESS>> LOOKING BEYOND THE LUNCH ROOM, ARE SCHOOLS TEACHING NUTRITION ADEQUATELY?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, SOME SCHOOLS ARE AND SOME SCHOOLS AREN’T. BUT I THINK THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS, IN ADDITION TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN THE CLASSROOM IS WHAT’S GOING ON OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM. A LOT OF PEOPLE WILL SAY THIS IS ALL ABOUT INDIVIDUAL CHOICE. WELL, PART IS ABOUT CHOICE, BUT PART IS ABOUT THE CONTEXT IN WHICH THAT CHOICE IS MADE AND PART OF THAT CONTEXT IS WHAT IS ON THE SCHOOL CAMPUS? WE DID A STUDY IN LONG BEACH, FOR EXAMPLE, LOOKING AT THE CONTENTS OF VENDING MACHINES. WE FOUND THAT NINETY-EIGHT PERCENT OF WHAT WAS SOLD IN THOSE VENDING MACHINES OF THE FOOD WAS ACTUALLY UNHEALTHY. SO AS A MATTER OF CHOICE, OFTENTIMES STUDENTS DON’T REALLY HAVE CHOICE.

VAL>> NOW IF THE STATE PASSED THIS ANEMIC LITTLE BILL THAT’S NOT GOING TO GO INTO EFFECT FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS, CAN EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT DO THEIR OWN, LIKE LAUSD? CAN THEY STEP IN AND SAY WE’RE NOT GOING TO WAIT FOR THE STATE?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> ABSOLUTELY. AND WHAT L.A. UNIFIED -- WE REALLY APPLAUD L.A. UNIFIED. THIS IS A LANDMARK DECISION. A GIANT BABY STEP IS WHAT THE AUTHOR OF THE RESOLUTION CALLED IT.

JESS>> AND THE ADMINISTRATION SUPPORTED IT?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> ROY ROMER WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF IT AND WE NOW ENCOURAGE PARENTS ALL OVER CALIFORNIA TO CALL THEIR SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SAY, IF L.A. UNIFIED CAN MAKE THE HEALTH OF THEIR STUDENTS A TOP PRIORITY, OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT SHOULD BE DOING THE SAME.

JESS>> VERY BRIEFLY, ON THE ISSUE OF CHOICE, WHAT ABOUT STUDENTS WHO, IF THEY’RE OFFERED THAT AND NOT FAST FOODS WHICH THEY SOMETIMES SEEM TO PREFER, DO THEY GO OFF CAMPUS FOR LUNCH?

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> WELL, THE IMPORTANT PIECE IS THAT WE ARE IN THE MIDST OF A MAJOR EPIDEMIC. WHAT WE’RE LOOKING AT ARE SKYROCKETING RATES OF DIABETES AMONG YOUNG CHILDREN. THIRTY OR FORTY YEARS FROM NOW, OUR CHILDREN ARE GOING TO BE DYING EARLY OF HEART DISEASE, CANCER AND DIABETES AT RATES THAT WE WOULD NEVER HAVE IMAGINED BEFORE. SCHOOLS NEED TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT A PART OF THE PROBLEM.

JESS>> IT’S AN EMERGENCY.

VAL>> IT IS. DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR WORK WITH THE CALIFORNIA CENTER FOR PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCACY, AND FOR BEING HERE.

DR. HAROLD GOLDSTEIN>> THANK YOU. MY PLEASURE.

VAL>> KIDS MAY BE LEARNING MORE ABOUT THE MEGA CALORIES OF FAST FOOD, BUT MANY ADULTS STILL HAVEN’T LEARNED THEIR LESSON AND SOME OF US STILL SEEM AMAZED THAT WE CAN GET AN ENTIRE DAY’S WORTH OF CALORIES FROM JUST ONE DOUBLE CHEESEBURGER WITH FRIES. BUT IF FAST FOOD IS SO BAD, WHY DOES IT HAVE TO TASTE SO GOOD? GAY YEE GOES WHERE THE MEAT HITS THE GRIDDLE IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS.

GAY YEE>> FAST FOOD HAS ITS ROOTS IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND JAY'S IN SILVER LAKE WAS ONE OF THE SEEDS. SINCE THE 1950'S, IT'S BEEN COOKING UP ITS NAMESAKE, THE JAYBURGER, AND THE HOUSE FAVORITE, THE EGGBURGER.

>> I'M MAKING IT RIGHT NOW. A DOUBLE JAY WITH AN EGG.

GAY YEE>> ITS BUTTER-FRIED EGG SITS ON TOP OF A CHILI CHEESEBURGER, WHAT SOME MIGHT CALL A HEART ATTACK WAITING TO HAPPEN, BUT NO ONE'S COMPLAINING.

>> YOU GOT TO ENJOY LIFE AND IT TASTES GOOD (LAUGHTER).

>> IF IT IS KILLING US, I'D SAY IT'S THE BEST WAY TO DIE.

>> WHAT DO YOU WANT TO CALL IT? YOU'RE JUST ADDICTED TO IT. IT'S AN ADDICTION.

GAY YEE>> SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE FAST FOOD IS ADDICTING, MUCH LIKE TOBACCO. THEY'RE SUING MCDONALD'S, BURGER KING, KENTUCKY FRIED CHICKEN AND WENDY'S FOR THE HEALTH PROBLEMS THEY NOW SUFFER. THE NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION CALLS THE LAWSUITS SENSELESS, BASELESS AND RIDICULOUS. SO WHO SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE HERE? WHO SHOULD WE BLAME FOR MAKING US FAT? IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO EAT THE FOOD OR IS IT THE PEOPLE WHO PREPARE IT?

>> I THINK THAT THOSE PEOPLE SHOULD TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR AND SEE IF ANYBODY IS HOLDING A GUN TO THEIR HEAD TELLING THEM TO EAT THERE. LET THEM STAY HOME AND EAT VEGETABLES.

>> IT'S NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY, YOU KNOW, FOR WHO THEY ARE AND WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND BASICALLY TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, TRYING TO MAKE SOMEBODY ELSE PAY FOR THEIR MISTAKE.

>> I THINK IT'S NONSENSE. IT'S NO DIFFERENT THAN THE WOMAN THAT SUED FOR THE COFFEE BURNING HER. IF YOU'RE AN IDIOT, YOU'RE AN IDIOT (LAUGHTER).

GAY YEE>> PUBLIC HEALTH ADVOCATE, ROSA SOTO, SAYS THE LAWSUITS ARE A WAKEUP CALL. SHE SAYS FAST FOOD IS ONE REASON WHY CHILDHOOD OBESITY IN THE U.S. IS NOW AN EPIDEMIC.

ROSA SOTO>> IT INDICATES A STRONG SENSE, I THINK, BY THE AMERICAN PUBLIC THAT WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR YOUTH. WE NEED TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO OUR SOCIETY AND OUR SOCIETY'S HEALTH. IF WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC OF CHILDHOOD OBESITY, IMAGINE WHAT THE HEALTH COMPLICATIONS OF THOSE ADULTS WILL BE.

GAY YEE>> CRITICS SAY FAST FOOD MAKERS NEED TO TAKE MORE RESPONSIBILITY. LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT THEY'RE EATING INSTEAD OF HOW MUCH MONEY THEY'RE SAVING IF THEY BUY BIGGER PORTIONS.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> THINK OF HOW YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES. THAT HAS ABOUT SIXTY TO SIXTY-FIVE GRAMS OF FAT IN IT. THIS EQUATES TO ABOUT FIVE AND A HALF TABLESPOONS OF FAT. THAT'S HOW MUCH THIS IS. THIS IS HOW MUCH FAT YOU'RE EATING WHEN YOU HAVE A BIG MAC AND A SUPER SIZED FRIES.

GAY YEE>> SHE SAYS CHILDREN ARE TARGETED BY THE INDUSTRY.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> OF COURSE, PEOPLE MAKE THEIR OWN CHOICES, BUT THE INDUSTRY MARKETS TO CHILDREN. THEY BRAND CHILDREN FOR LIFE IF THEY WILL EAT THEIR PRODUCTS AND THEY'RE OUT THERE TO MAKE MONEY. THEY REALLY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE DOING AND THAT'S NOT RESPONSIBLE TO MARKET TO CHILDREN THAT WAY.

GAY YEE>> ONE ACTIVIST TEACHER SAYS AN ANSWER IS EDUCATING THE KIDS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WELL, WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE HEALTHIER PRIMARILY. SECONDLY, WE ARE TRYING TO GET RID OF THE MASS MARKETING STRATEGIES OF THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS.

GAY YEE>> VENICE HIGH SCHOOL HEALTH TEACHER, JACKIE DOMAC, AND HER STUDENTS HAVE LOCKED HORNS WITH THE FOOD AND BEVERAGE INDUSTRY. THEY GOT SODAS REMOVED FROM CAMPUS IN A BATTLE THEY CALLED DAVID AGAINST GOLIATH.

JACKIE DOMAC>> OKAY, LET'S DEBRIEF. LET'S MAKE A LITTLE CIRCLE.

GAY YEE>> BUT DOMAC AND HER STUDENTS SAY THE SOFT DRINK COMPANY WAS SLOW TO REMOVE THE MACHINES AND THEY BELIEVE THE COMPANY IS TRYING TO BRING A NEW DRINK ON CAMPUS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> ALL THE JUNK, BASICALLY, IN A SODA WITH A SPLASH OF MILK AND NOW THEY'RE CLAIMING IT'S A MILK BEVERAGE SO THEY CAN STILL SELL IT. I REALLY LIKE TO SHOW MY STUDENTS THAT THEY CAN FEEL EMPOWERED, THAT THEY CAN STRONGLY BELIEVE IN SOMETHING AND CREATE CHANGE. WE MAY NEED TO TAKE A TRIP DOWNTOWN TO THE SCHOOL BOARD TODAY TO ADDRESS THEM.

GAY YEE>> DOMAC SAYS SHE'S TEACHING HER STUDENTS TO BE ACTIVISTS.

JACKIE DOMAC>> WE'RE AT THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT DOWNTOWN HEADQUARTERS AND WE'RE AT THE BOARD OF EDUCATION AND WE'RE HOPING TO TIE UP A FEW LOOPHOLES WE FEEL LIKE THE SODA INDUSTRY HAS FOUND.

GAY YEE>> HER STUDENTS ARE LEARNING THAT, IF YOU WANT THINGS TO CHANGE, GO TO THE VERY TOP. THEY CALLED A MEETING WITH THE STAFF OF THE LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER.

>> WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF MILK?

>> OKAY. IS THIS RELATED TO -- BECAUSE OF COKE'S MILK DRINK?

>> YES.

GAY YEE>> AND WITH THIS GROUNDSWELL OF ACTIVISM, THERE ARE HINTS THE FOOD MAKERS MAY BE READY TO GET WITH THE PROGRAM.

ANDREA GIANCOLI>> SOME OF THEM ARE STARTING TO MAKE CHANGES. JACK IN THE BOX IS NOW GOING TO BE OFFERING A LIGHTER FARE. THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE A TARGET TOWARDS WOMEN. MCDONALD'S JUST PUT ON THEIR WEBSITE VERY RECENTLY A WHOLE REPORT ABOUT THEIR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. SO I THINK THE WRITING IS ON THE WALL AND I THINK THEY'RE SEEING IT AND WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING SOME CHANGES.

GAY YEE>> DOMAC BELIEVES THE FOOD INDUSTRY IS GETTING A RUDE AWAKENING, A NEW GENERATION OF CONSUMERS DEMANDING HEALTHIER FOOD, AND THEY'RE WILLING TO MAKE A LOT OF NOISE UNTIL THEY GET IT.

JACKIE DOMAC>> I THINK THEY NEED TO PUT THIS ISSUE IN THE TERMS OF FACES AND IT'S NOT JUST NUMBERS ON A PIECE OF PAPER LIKE MONEY IS. THESE ARE REAL PEOPLE WITH REAL HEALTH CONCERNS THAT WE NEED TO TAKE CARE OF RIGHT NOW.

VAL>> IF YOUNGSTERS ARE THE ONES WHO LEAD THE WAY TO BETTER EATING, THEY COULD ALSO CHANGE THE HABITS OF A NATION THAT STILL LOVES FATTY FOODS. BY LOSING JUST A FEW POUNDS, THE COUNTRY COULD SAVE ITSELF A FEW BILLION DOLLARS IN HEALTHCARE COSTS.

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