Dairy industry joins USDA and NFL to fight obesity

The USDA, the National Dairy Council and the NFL have launched the Fuel Up to Play 60 campaign to tackle childhood obesity with the help of $250m from US dairy farmers.

The initiative, which brings together industry, government and health professionals, is designed to fight obesity among children by encouraging better food choices and involvement in 60 minutes of sport every day.

More than 58,000, or 60 percent, of the 96,000 private and public schools in the US have enrolled in Fuel Up to Play 60. Dairy farmers have committed $250m to the project over five years and funding is expected to grow from other sources.

“Partnerships like these, combined with a strong reauthorization of the Child Nutrition Programs, can make a significant difference in our battle against childhood obesity,” said US agriculture secretary Tom Vilsack.