The good news is that actions can be taken to prevent childhood obesity. Policy and programmatic actions can and should be taken at the local level. Two previous Institute of Medicine (IOM, 2007) reports take a comprehensive look at childhood obesity, present conclusions about likely causes and solutions, and offer recommendations for next steps (IOM, 2007). Many of these recommendations discuss the vital role of government actions at all levels—federal, state, and local—in childhood obesity prevention. Local government leadership is critical to both reducing and preventing further increases in childhood obesity. The places in which people live, work, study, and play have a strong influence on their ability to consume healthy foods and beverages
