Mandatory or Voluntary: Schwarzenegger's Anti-Obesity Campaign Highlights the Dilemma

Recently I have written about how wellness and prevention initiatives can be developed in local communities and in workplaces. But effecting a lasting healthcare reform requires coordination at a higher level.

Two and a half years Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger called all major California healthcare stakeholders to "Obesity Prevention Summit" to work out a strategy for confronting the problem head on. According to a recent article in Sacramento Bee, the effort has finally resulted in a set of recommendation and a state-sponsored prevention campaign.

What is the specific work product of the effort?

Three "tool kits" for children and adults designed to "help doctors and their patients begin a fight against the obesity epidemic". Reflecting a "consensus of 50 health professionals" the recommendations could be valuable in encouraging awareness, even as a reminder.

The bigger question is the balance of voluneerism vs. mandates

But a review by the staff of state Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Los Angeles, found that few companies honored by the governor at his summit had fulfilled their commitments.

Padilla, who earlier this year chaired a Senate panel that looked into the issue, cited McDonald's Corp. and Dole Food Co. as examples.

McDonald's pledged to print healthy eating messages on tray liners, while Dole Food Co. said it would provide portable salad bars to 50 California schools. On Tuesday, Padilla's staff said neither company had fulfilled its commitments.

Kim Belshé, Schwarzenegger's health secretary, said the administration has been "heartened and encouraged that the overwhelming majority of (summit) participants that made commitments have stepped forward."

During the rollout of the obesity tool kits, Belshé said the administration is "continuing to engage" companies that have not kept their commitments.

Without a doubt there is plenty of poitics in this exchange between Sen. Padilla and Schwarzenegger administration. But I think this is also a preview of the debate on the merits of "engaging" or "mandating" prevention initiatives. In my view, the most sustainable course of action is to create business incentives (think tax breaks) to reward healthy lifestyle promotion.

Doing the right thing should carry financial rewards.