Childhood obesity: what's health care policy got to do with it?

The health care industry must acknowledge its critical role in addressing childhood obesity. All components of the industry--payers, plans, and providers--must act based on the best available evidence. This evidence now points to promoting breastfeeding and increased physical activity, decreased television time, and decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages; the use of more-effective counseling techniques; and linking practice and community-based strategies around a common message. Policies in support of these changes include reimbursement for counseling and community efforts; training; incentives; and support for traditional and pragmatic research, the latter including sharing outcomes using common metrics across programs.