The Journal of law, medicine & ethics : a journal of the American Society of Law, Medicine & Ethics
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The rapid increases in childhood and adolescent overweight between 1980 and 1999 can only be explained by environmental factors. Historically, the most effective strategies to address nutritional problems that have caused such widespread disease have been policy-driven environmental changes. To develop effective public policy responses to the obesity epidemic, we must expand the science base linking environmental conditions and policies to health behaviors and conditions; establish effective intersectoral coalitions of stakeholders; and create effective policy at the national and state levels. Although the childhood obesity epidemic is still evolving, this article provides several examples of potentially effective strategic approaches to address it.
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The partnership that has developed over the years between elected officials, health directors, and attorneys came about through necessity and practicality. This article examines this partnership and some of the conflicts and problems it contains. ⋯ It also emphasizes that existing laws and regulations often provide sufficiently flexible authority, and that such laws and regulations can be exercised in new ways to address current public health problems. The article concludes with a discussion of the challenges faced by public health officials and legislators in forming a partnership to secure necessary financial support and legal authority for public health activities.
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Cigarette smoking continues to be a leading cause of death in the United States, imposing substantial measurable costs to society. Smoking killed over 440,000 people in the United States each year during the period 1995-1999. If current smoking trends continue, over 5 million people currently younger than 18 will die prematurely from tobacco-related diseases. ⋯ This article discusses the effectiveness of excise tax increases on prevention and reduction of smoking. It also discusses factors that influence the legislative adoption of such increases. Finally, it examines potential threats to the use of tobacco taxes as a prevention tool.