Welcome to the very first episode of “Food Issues.” In this episode, about the impact of COVID-19 on health inequities, rates of food insecurity, and childhood obesity. We also tackle the current state of school lunch and proposed waivers, food marketing and social media influencers and what we can do to affect change.
My guest is Dr. Marlene Schwartz, the Director of the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity and Professor of Human Development and Family Sciences at UConn.
For the highlights, see the time stamps below, but listening to the entire episode will give you a deep dive into the issues.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 44:25 — 30.5MB)
Welcome
2:00 What impact has COVID-19 had on food insecurity?
4:10 What impact has COVID-19 had on childhood obesity rates?
6.51 What did the USDA waivers for school lunch do?
15.04 How has COVID-19 affected health inequities in the U.S.?
18.06 Dr. Schwartz’s research about unhealthy food donations and social stigma are linked to higher rates of both food insecurity and obesity among food pantry clients
27.00 What did this recent study on junk food marketing find and what’s your advice to parents?
34.52 YouTube influencers are marketing junk food to kids too—what can parents do?
38.05 What is the impact of COVID-19 on childhood obesity rates?
40.37 What does the future hold—do you have hope for these food issues to improve?
LINKS MENTIONED IN THE SHOW
UConn Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity
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With hundreds of thousands of Americans dying each year from obesity, type-2 diabetes, and a slew of chronic health conditions—all a direct result of food inequities, a broken food culture, and food marketing, and worsened by COVID-19, a significant shift in how we think about food and how we feed our kids must happen now if we want to change the trajectory of health for our kids. Food Issues hosted by health journalist and blogger Julie Revelant features interviews with authors, researchers, healthy food advocates, and thought leaders who want to educate, inspire, and empower organizations, parents, and local communities to create real, lasting change and ensure a healthier future for our kids. Through profound conversations that uncover the real issues affecting families coupled with easy, practical tips for parents, this podcast is the place to change our kids’ futures.
