Obesity -- It's Why P.E. is Important

As I am sure you are well aware, Hi and Lois is one of those "topical" strips, always commenting on the important issues of the day. We often get letters to the editor asking H&L to be moved to the Opinion Page. You know the "topical" stuff I'm talking about: slobby neighbors, truculent teens, messy babies, etc. Take today's strip for instance:



Yes, children's tv shows market sugar-fueled confectionary treats to children! In fact, in early December, the Institute of Medicine, an advisory arm of the National Academies, issued a report that linked the proliferation of junk-food advertising to the growing incidence of childhood obesity. You can even buy the report. Or, you can read about it in the Baltimore Sun.

In some corners, the report's conclusions were controversial. And they're right -- there's more to childhood obesity than pervasive marketing, but doesn't marketing of crappy food at least have SOMETHING to do with it?

And here, Hi and Lois jumps directly into this hot-button issue, as it does with all the important issues of our time. Dot and Ditto are simply watching their favorite Frankenstein's monster cartoon, when they are bombarded with entreaties to buy Super-Slammin' Blasto-Pops Frozen Treats. YUM! And, lookie there, Ditto went IMMEDIATELY to his mom to ask her to buy it. Marketing doesn't affect children? I beg to differ! Thank you, Hi and Lois for weighing in with your take.