Ethical Concerns Regarding Interventions to Prevent and Control Childhood Obesity

In 2001, US Surgeon General David Satcher stated that childhood obesity was spreading through our nation like an epidemic, threatening the health and future of our children and incurring large health care costs (1). During the past decade, people throughout the country — from rural communities to the White House — have joined efforts to promote change. The growth of the movement to prevent childhood obesity is impressive and inspiring, but we still have far to go.