Group 1 Talking Points Why do we hear more about homicides than diet- related diseases? Which one can we prevent? Why have the obesity rates risen so much? How many people do you know who eat vegetables at every meal? Who have diabetes? Why? If no changes are made to American diet, obesity will surpass smoking as the leading cause of preventable death

~57.8

In 2006, % of US deaths attributable to heart disease, diabetes, all types of cancer and stroke (many of these diseases are diet- related)

~7.9

In 2006, % of US deaths from homicide

13

% of adults who were obese in 1960

34

% of adults who were obese in 2008

Less than 15

% of elementary- aged children in the US who consume the recommended daily allowance of fruits and vegetables

33

% of US Children born in 2005 that the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) predicts will develop diabetes in their lifetimes

Group 2 Talking Points How does the obesity epidemic cost us money? Where do these costs come from? Have you seen more fruit and vegetable OR McDonald’s commercials? How does advertising affect what we eat? Count off in the group, show how crazy it is that 2 out of 3 people in America are overweight. Mention that this number is higher than in other countries that eat more vegetables and exercise more than us.

~$150,000,000,000

Annual cost of the obesity epidemic on the American economy

~$966,667

US Government’s annual advertising budget for MyPlate nutrition campaign

~$2,000,000,000

McDonald’s annual advertising budget in the US

1 out of 3

Americans who are obese

2 out of 3

Americans who are overweight

1 out of 3

Fraction of American kids who eat McDonalds daily

Group 3 Talking Points Subsidies=money that the government gives to farmers for free. The more subsidies a farmer gets, the cheaper the food becomes. Since corn gets a lot of subsidies, corn is cheap and gets put in everything, i.e., high fructose corn syrup. Fruit and vegetables are not subsidized much at all, therefore they cost more even though they are easy to grow. Why so few farms? When more food is raised in factories, people who run farms lose their jobs and their farms. Back in the day, no food was raised in factories. How many miles wide is the US? Approx miles. What’s wrong with food traveling more than halfway across the country to get to us? Less fresh, more chemicals are used, pollution, etc. When you buy locally, all the money stays in your community.

Less than 1

% of USDA subsidies that go to fruits and vegetables

More than 90

% of USDA subsidies that go to farmers of five crops—wheat, corn, soybeans, rice, and cotton

2,000,000

# of farms in the US today

~17,000

# of US farmers that leave their land each year

Average # of miles that food typically travels from farm to plate

6

% of US Farmers under the age of 35

7,000,000

# of farms in the United States in the 1930s

Group 4 Talking Points Back in the day, soda was dessert. Now soda and other sugary drinks are drunk at most meals. Too much empty calories and not enough water=  If you eat 1200 calories in one meal, then you will probably eat more than 2000 calories in one day. Too many calories and not enough exercise>weight gain. McDonalds is a cheap way to get calories. At what cost? Do you run 10 miles after eating McDonalds? That’s just McDonalds, think about the papi stores, cheesesteaks, Chinese food, etc. What happens when we recognize logos more than we recognize fruits and vegetables?

~60,000,000

Number of adult Americans who are obese

310,000,000

Number of adult Americans

8

Ounces in a bottle of Coca- Cola in 1960

24

Ounces in a bottle of Coca Cola in 2004

1200

Calories in a Big Mac, Large Fries and Large Soda

10

Approximate # of miles you can run to burn off 1200 calories

1

McDonald’s rank among the most recognized symbols and logos in the world

12-27

The number of years diabetes removes from a person’s life