"The grant from the beverage association was given to Children's Hospital to augment and expand an already-existing program they had to deal with childhood obesity," Ceisler said. "There were no strings attached. . . . CHOP operates that program independently and they are the ones who control it."
The city is using about $25.4 million in federal stimulus money for a two-year project to reduce tobacco use, promote exercise, and encourage healthy nutrition. About $15.2 million of it is devoted to exercise and nutrition issues, bearing on the obesity problem, according to a Health Department spokesman.
The city program includes a 30-second television spot that takes a healthy whack at the beverage industry.
It features a mother driving a car, with her chubby son, about 10, in the passenger seat. "The doctor says he's overweight," she worries to herself. "He looks fine to me. And he's at risk for diabetes?"
"Half of Philadelphia's kids are overweight or obese, increasing their risk of diabetes," a narrator says.
The mother eyes a bottle of orange soda within reach of her son. "And that stuff doesn't help," she says.
"Soda and fruit drinks are a big part of the problem," the narrator says. "One soda has as much sugar as two candy bars. Do you know what your kids are drinking?"
The mother parks the car. "We'll fix this," she says. "I just wish I'd known sooner."
Federal money for the city's antiobesity efforts is scheduled to run out next March, according to Schwarz, who is deputy mayor for health and opportunity as well as health commissioner.
Schwarz said there was some money in the city's budget to continue some of its antiobesity activities beyond March. The city has also applied for additional federal funds, he said.
Contact staff writer Bob Warner at 215-854-5885 or warnerb@phillynews.com.
