Health Care Reform From Outside of the Box – Jamie Oliver Wins 2010 TED Prize

Can His Food Revolution Generate Bi-Partisan Grassroots Support?

It's not surprising that last week's White House Health Care Summit did little to overcome the paralyzing inertia of partisan politics. After twelve months of town hall meetings, insurance company lobbying, political posturing, pandering for special interests, and shameless mendacity, it's apparent that those opposed to substantial reform don't care about what is at stake.

Jamie Oliver does, and he isn't waiting for a political solution. The English chef and social entrepreneur is the winner of the 2010 TED Prize, an award that is “Designed to leverage the TED community's exceptional array of talent and resources." The TED Prize winner gets to channel that powerful collaboration to effect “One wish to change the world." Jamie Oliver's vision is clear: “I wish for your help to create a strong, sustainable movement to educate every child about food, inspire families to cook again and empower people everywhere to fight obesity."

Accepting his award, Mr. Oliver began his TED talk with some stark facts: “Diet-related disease is the biggest killer in the United States, right now, here today." … “Obesity costs ten percent of your health care bills, 150 billion dollars a year. In ten years, it's set to double – 300 billion dollars a year."


Thanks to Jan Nedin

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reinforces the health consequences of our overeating epidemic:

Research has shown that as weight increases to reach the levels referred to as "overweight" and "obesity," the risks for the following conditions also increases:

• Coronary heart disease
• Type 2 diabetes
• Cancers (endometrial, breast, and colon)
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Dyslipidemia (for example, high total cholesterol or high levels of triglycerides)
• Stroke
• Liver and gallbladder disease
• Sleep apnea and respiratory problems
• Osteoarthritis (a degeneration of cartilage and its underlying bone within a joint)
• Gynecological problems (abnormal menses, infertility)

As the political wrangling continues, Jamie Oliver is pointing the way toward one true bi-partisan remedy to rising health care costs.

If Congress does pass health care reform legislation, the President will sign a bill that will be substantially less than optimum. The conservatives will attack it for its cost and liberals will criticize it for its shortcomings, but as President Obama said at the health care summit, "That's what elections are for."

I ask – can you afford to maintain the status quo of health care?