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Unpacking America’s Obesity Crisis: Reflections from the Fed Up Film Screening and Panel Discussion. It brought together public health advocates, environmental leaders, and civil rights voices. Organized by Laura Turner Seydel of the Turner Foundation and the Environmental Working Group (EWG), and hosted by film producer Laurie David, the event spotlighted the urgent public health crisis of obesity in America and the systemic forces driving it.

The Film: A Wake-Up Call on Food Industry Practices
Fed Up is a documentary that confronts the root causes of America’s obesity epidemic, particularly among children. It explores how the food industry has engineered products to be addictive, marketed unhealthy options to youth, and resisted meaningful regulation. The film also critiques the lack of political will to enact reforms that prioritize public health over corporate profit.

Through interviews with experts, families, and policymakers, Fed Up reveals how sugar-laden diets, misleading food labels, and aggressive advertising have contributed to rising rates of obesity, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses.

The Panel: A Multidisciplinary Call to Action
Following the screening, a panel discussion featured:

Heather White, Executive Director of the Environmental Working Group

Rev. Gerald Durley, civil rights leader and environmental justice advocate

A pediatric health expert specializing in nutrition and community health

Together, the panelists examined the intersection of food policy, environmental health, and social equity. Key topics included:

The role of processed foods and added sugars in childhood obesity

The disproportionate impact of poor nutrition on low-income and minority communities

The need for transparent food labeling and stronger regulatory oversight

Strategies for empowering families to make healthier choices

The importance of integrating nutrition education into schools and community programs

Rev. Durley emphasized the moral imperative of protecting children from exploitative industry practices, while Heather White called for policy reforms that hold corporations accountable and prioritize consumer safety.

Moving Toward Solutions
The discussion underscored that addressing obesity requires more than individual willpower—it demands systemic change. Recommended actions included:

Supporting legislation that limits sugar content and improves food labeling

Advocating for school lunch reform and access to fresh produce

Promoting community gardens and urban agriculture

Educating families about nutrition and food preparation

Holding elected officials accountable for public health policy

Conclusion
The Fed Up screening and panel served as a powerful reminder that food justice is inseparable from environmental and social justice. By exposing the tactics of the food industry and amplifying voices committed to change, the event galvanized attendees to take action—at the dinner table, in their communities, and through civic engagement.

Press

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Atlanta EPA Clean Power Plan Hearings and Rally

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Morehouse College hosts Black clergy, leading stakeholders for Obama's Clean Power plan

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Dr. Yolanda Whyte Speaks to the ‘Stroller Brigade’

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Moms Demand Congress Clean Up Toxic Chemicals in ‘Stroller Brigade’ at the Capitol

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Atlanta Leaders Move to Protect the Planet and Public Health

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Fluoride-Year 2012 Review

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Pediatrician Yolanda Whyte, National Expert of African Americans and Fluoride, Speaks in Portland

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Residents Flood This Week’s EPA Mercury Hearings

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What Are We Waiting For?

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