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But the scope of the nation's weight problem is much more extensive than tobacco ever was and public health campaigns must address issues as complex as food and beverage choices, television viewing, exercise routines and even the design of cities.
Whether such programs spur long-term change is unclear, and some fear discrimination against those with chronic conditions.
With Republicans intent on trimming or eliminating the fund, he says, public health advocates may not have a generation to show they can prevent or manage chronic diseases, which are responsible for seven of 10 deaths each year and account for 75 percent of the nation’s health spending.
Doctors say testing may identify some in need of treatment but could also lead to many youngsters being mistakenly labeled as at risk.
Four in five African American women are overweight or obese, and they start adding extra pounds years before their white counterparts. Research suggests the problem may have a lot to do with when girls give up regular exercise.
The disease was once considered "adult-onset" diabetes, but cases among U.S. children have ramped up from virtually zero to tens of thousands in little more than a decade.
Jane Carroll, 53, lives in Silver Spring, Maryland and has been in weight management programs much of her life.
Obese employees cost U.S. private employers an estimated $45 billion a year in medical expenditures and work loss, according to figures from the Conference Board. And employers are taking note, now more than ever.
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