Healthy food environments

Published online on Tuesday, Sep. 22, 2009

Thank you for calling attention to the alarming rates of obesity in the Valley [“Valley soda consumption high,” story Sept. 17].

Your coverage highlights the unhealthy food environments that have resulted from poor food policies. It’s not difficult to understand why so much soda is consumed when it’s so cheap and so easy to get.

Excess calories from soda consumption contribute to obesity, and we need to collectively address such factors by creating healthier food environments. Healthy communities are places were healthy diets are encouraged. However, many local community members lack access to healthy food and potable water.

One way to fight obesity is by making healthy food and beverage choices easily accessible. We can do this by supporting farmers markets, community gardens and by corner stores selling more fruits and vegetables. We also need to make sure that access to drinking water is greater and more affordable than soda.

The Central California Regional Obesity Prevention Program at California State University, Fresno supports community efforts to create healthy food and physical activity environments. Join us.

Genoveva Islas-Hooker

Central California Obesity Prevention Program

Fresno