Teresa Ambroz

Yeah, that's a great question. So I've had this bird's eye view as my career has been long. And you know, when I started my career in the mid 1980s, childhood obesity just started to escalate, like obesity rates just started to climb after 1980 dramatically. And type two diabetes tends to follow about 10 years behind at a population level.

Yeah, that's a great question. So I've had this bird's eye view as my career has been long. And you know, when I started my career in the mid 1980s, childhood obesity just started to escalate, like obesity rates just started to climb after 1980 dramatically. And type two diabetes tends to follow about 10 years behind at a population level.

So when people are talking about these small increases in the last 10 or 20 years, we start to think that it's just inevitable that Type 2 diabetes is inevitable and 40% of people are going to have it in their lifetime. And people are going to live shorter lives than their parents. And we start to accept these to be inevitable.

So when people are talking about these small increases in the last 10 or 20 years, we start to think that it's just inevitable that Type 2 diabetes is inevitable and 40% of people are going to have it in their lifetime. And people are going to live shorter lives than their parents. And we start to accept these to be inevitable.

And it's not because we know that in the 1970s, four times less kids, less people had diabetes, type 2 diabetes. So, and obesity. So we can reverse these trends and to the cause it's really complicated because there is a genetic component, but there's really an environmental component that kind of makes it harder for some people not to gain weight.

And it's not because we know that in the 1970s, four times less kids, less people had diabetes, type 2 diabetes. So, and obesity. So we can reverse these trends and to the cause it's really complicated because there is a genetic component, but there's really an environmental component that kind of makes it harder for some people not to gain weight.

We have what we has often been referred to as a toxic environment that contributes to obesity. So if people who kind of, you know, grew up in those areas and can think about the differences, you know,

We have what we has often been referred to as a toxic environment that contributes to obesity. So if people who kind of, you know, grew up in those areas and can think about the differences, you know,

advertising and marketing and screen time and our food environment um that let's just share i'm sure everybody's got really great examples of what they've seen barry we see yeah so yeah i wanted to you know i'm just trying to think back you know what what had started to change

advertising and marketing and screen time and our food environment um that let's just share i'm sure everybody's got really great examples of what they've seen barry we see yeah so yeah i wanted to you know i'm just trying to think back you know what what had started to change

Yeah, Health Affairs has run articles about some of these things. So one of the big players have been big changes that we've seen results with are changes in the WIC food packages. where instead of giving kids fruit juice, you're giving them whole fruits, for example. So the quality of the food and less processed foods, ultra processed foods are a huge factor.

Yeah, Health Affairs has run articles about some of these things. So one of the big players have been big changes that we've seen results with are changes in the WIC food packages. where instead of giving kids fruit juice, you're giving them whole fruits, for example. So the quality of the food and less processed foods, ultra processed foods are a huge factor.

Sugary beverages have dramatically increased in consumption overall, and the trends are pretty parallel, and they're associated with increased rates of type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease and cavities.

Sugary beverages have dramatically increased in consumption overall, and the trends are pretty parallel, and they're associated with increased rates of type two diabetes and cardiovascular disease and cavities.

And so sugary drinks, you know, include things like sports drinks and lemonade and Kool-Aid, you know, these flavored waters that have even artificial sweeteners are associated with metabolic conditions. So trying to encourage consumption of water and milk, low fat milk for children and adults, um, no sugary beverages are recommended before age five.

And so sugary drinks, you know, include things like sports drinks and lemonade and Kool-Aid, you know, these flavored waters that have even artificial sweeteners are associated with metabolic conditions. So trying to encourage consumption of water and milk, low fat milk for children and adults, um, no sugary beverages are recommended before age five.

And even if kids are going to consume them, you know, occasionally one eight ounce drink a week, like people are consuming far, far too much sugar. And that can make a big difference because when you consume sugary drinks, it doesn't satiate your hunger. You still feel hungry and you can eat a lot of food. So that is a huge change people could make. And some,

And even if kids are going to consume them, you know, occasionally one eight ounce drink a week, like people are consuming far, far too much sugar. And that can make a big difference because when you consume sugary drinks, it doesn't satiate your hunger. You still feel hungry and you can eat a lot of food. So that is a huge change people could make. And some,

Approaches to that are reducing access, right? Having policies in schools and childcare centers and sports teams so that those aren't available and water is.

Approaches to that are reducing access, right? Having policies in schools and childcare centers and sports teams so that those aren't available and water is.