points of view

Guest Column

Preventing Childhood Obesity

A

s a nation, we are very con-

science of taking care of our
children. Parents make sure
children wear helmets when they ride
a bike or ski. Parents are concerned
with children not being exposed to
bacteria by using antibacterials, and
they dress the children warmly when
the weather is cold. There is tremen-
dous public awareness of protecting
children from potential kidnapping.
Yet, quietly lurking in the back-
ground and getting minimal attention
is the epidemic that is threatening the
very future of our children's health.
Childhood obesity is running ram-
pant and very few people are pay-
ing enough attention to this threat.
Someone just has to look at the chil-
dren in a mall or watch them being dis-
missed at school to see what a prob-
lem childhood obesity has become.
Two-thirds of the nation's children
are overweight and one-third are
obese. Obesity has doubled in children
and quadrupled in adolescents in the
past 30 years. There is a 40 percent

Warped Vision from page 37

emanating from the West Bank. But don't
be fooled: The barrier itself has stifled
countless attempts to infiltrate Israel.
Sure, the Israeli government and the
international community working more
closely could spur Palestinian economic
development in Areas A and B, in turn
lowering need for the barrier. But such an
economic boost alone would not justify
removing the barrier.
What's more, the Palestinians wouldn't
unilaterally agree to just 40 percent of the
West Bank — and effectively consent to
what they'd see as a limited form of self-
government. As Ross put it, "The idea that
somehow the Palestinians would be con-
tent with that, and would simply accept
that, is, I think, an illusion — not to men-
tion the rest of the world's reaction to that.
"I just don't think it's very practical:'

A Possible Positive
Bennett is right about one thing: There's
no perfect solution to the Israeli-
Palestinian conflict "and the wait for one
has allowed the Palestinian economy to
languish:'
In the right political climate, there could
be ample opportunity for two of Bennett's
ideas to take flight:
• Encourage multinational corporations
to invest in Palestinian areas by offering
economic incentives, such as insurance
guarantees and tax breaks;
• Streamline the export process for
Palestinian manufacturers so products

38

June 5 • 2014

increase in childhood diabetes in the

last 20 years. Type 2 diabetes was
called adult onset diabetes previously
because the disease was almost non-
existent in children.
In the 1970s, a great push
was made toward healthier
eating by using low-fat
and low-calorie foods. Yet,
shockingly, parents still are
making poor food choices
for their children.
Besides diabetes, the
immediate effects of obesi-
ty are cardiovascular issues,
cholesterol problems and
high blood pressure. Thirty
years ago, these ailments
hardly existed in children.
Obesity can cause bone and joint
problems along with sleep apnea,
which can severely impact the qual-
ity of later life. Being overweight can
cause myriad problems ranging from
psychological problems (from low self-
esteem) to increasing the probability
of being an obese adult.

could reach their destination quickly and
in perfect condition.

Annexation Hurdles
In making the case for annexing Area C,
Bennett argues it would facilitate a peace
accord by "reducing the size of the terri-
tory in dispute" — as if the allure of two
states for two peoples hinges predomi-
nantly on land and not on trust.
"Annexation also would allow Israel to
secure vital interests:' Bennett says. Those
interests include:
• Security for Jerusalem and the Gush
Dan region along Israel's central coast;
• Protection for Israeli settlements
within Area C;
• Israeli sovereignty over national
heritage sites, such as the Cave of the
Patriarchs in Hebron, the burial place of
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Rebecca and Leah.
The first two interests would be far
easier to achieve than wresting control of
the 80 percent of the holy city of Hebron
that's under Palestinian control. Israel
controls the other 20 percent, including
the old Jewish Quarter, where about 500
Jews live. The Muslim Waqf administers
and controls Jewish access to the Cave of
the Patriarchs, Judaism's second holiest site
after the Western Wall.
Annexing Area C, or any area of the
West Bank, outside the international
firewall of negotiations, would create a
firestorm within the United Nations. Israel
gained control of the eastern sector of
Jerusalem from Jordan in the 1967 war

In addition, osteoarthritis is a direct
consequence of adult obesity. Further,
obesity increases the risk of numer-
ous cancers, such as colon, esophagus,
kidney, pancreas, thyroid, gall blad-
der, cervix, prostate, multiple
myeloma and Hodgkin's dis-
ease.
The foregoing problems are
the very reason that I found-
ed the Jordan Levin Obesity
Foundation. The foundation
is dedicated to reducing the
childhood obesity epidemic by
promoting healthy eating and
physical activity for children.
Many of the children we
work with are overweight
and economically challenged.
One of the biggest problems is edu-
cating parents regarding what con-
stitutes healthy eating. I have spoken
to parents who believe that serving
their children an entire pizza with pep-
peroni for lunch is part of a balanced
diet. The parents have no idea that
their lunch choice has more than 1,000

calories and fat content well over the
daily recommended allowances, all in a
single meal.
The Jordan Levin Childhood Obesity
Foundation has partnered with
McLaren Oakland Hospital to sponsor
many of its childhood programs. Many
of the programs are done with elemen-
tary-aged children.
The foundation sponsors healthy
cooking programs for both children
and parents. An athletic trainer is
brought in to teach the children the
importance of exercise in maintaining
a healthy lifestyle.
In order to fund our programs, we
are sponsoring a Row-A-Thon on June
8 at CrossFit Bloomfield/Fitness
Innovation Team at 779 Industrial Ct.
in Bloomfield Hills.
You can row with us or just donate
at www.jlcof.org/june8event.We are
looking for volunteers to aid us in
other programs.

❑

Jordan Levin is the owner of CrossFit

Bloomfield.

and formally annexed it in 1980. The 1967
war also precipitated Israel annexing other
Arab villages in the West Bank to expand
Jerusalem and make it Israel's largest
city. Israel effectively annexed the Golan
Heights in 1981 to defend against Syrian
aggression.

at times acknowledging Israel's existence.
The nagging impression remains that
the Palestinian leadership won't settle for
less than most of the West Bank, while
wanting all of Israel. Its strategy involves
letting the U.S., European Union and
United Nations coax Israel into continued
concessions while conceding virtually
nothing itself.

The Dark Reality

Minister Bennett con-
tends his proposal "offers
Palestinians independent
government and prosperity
while ensuring Israeli secu-
rity and stability" — thus
improving lives and foster-
ing a healthier coexistence,
"major progress for a region
that has known conflict for
decades"
His contention sounds
nice. But it rings hollow.
Consider it against the
backdrop of the official daily
newspaper of the Palestinian
Authority, Al Hayat Al Jadida,
publishing a May commen-
tary, in advance of Israeli
Independence Day, that
described Israel's creation as
"the occupation of Palestine"
and as "the greatest crime
known to humanity" Israel-
based Palestinian Media
Watch has documented how
the P.A. refuses to recognize
Israel's right to exist despite

❑

Dry Bones

THE GROWTH OF
THE BOYCOTT
ISRAEL MOVEMENT
IN AMERICAN
UNIVERSITIES

IS NOT A SIGN OF
THE ORGANIZERS'
SUCCESS.

CagleCartoons.com

IT IS A SIGN
OF THE

I

AMERICAN ACADEMIC
WORLD'S PITIFUL
WEAKNESS. •

