Public health at issue in election

The Democratic platform states: "With prevention and treatment initiatives on obesity and public health, Democrats are leading the way on supporting healthier, more physically active families and healthy children."

[...] the Republican platform states: "When approximately 80 percent of health care costs are related to lifestyle - smoking, obesity, substance abuse - far greater emphasis has to be put upon personal responsibility for health maintenance."

Sugar-sweetened beverages (sodas, for short) are a good example of how the interests of food and beverage corporations dominate American politics.

Because regular consumption of sodas is associated with increased health risks, an obvious public health strategy is to discourage overconsumption.

LobbyistsSoda companies have lobbied actively against public health interventions recommended by the White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity in 2010 and adopted as goals of Michelle Obama's Let's Move campaign to end childhood obesity within a generation.

Implementation of several interventions - more informative food labels, restrictions on misleading health claims, limits on sodas and snacks sold in schools, menu-labeling in fast-food restaurants, and food safety standards - has been delayed, reportedly to prevent nanny-state public health measures from becoming campaign issues.