Introduction

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the book. The first section discusses how the various chapters fit together: Chap. 2 provides a discussion and many examples of both informal and formal food policy in the United States; the two following chapters (Chaps. 3 and 4) explore two aspects of food policy (food advertising on television and the Internet, school lunches) that have an impact on the epidemic of childhood obesity in America; and the final two chapters (Chaps. 5 and 6) examine one particular variety of informal food policy (use of the bully pulpit of the White House by First Ladies) and how these efforts interact with formal food policy. The next section of this chapter provides background information for Chaps. 3 and 4 about the history and impacts (both medical and social) of childhood obesity in the United States. The final section of the chapter provides background information for Chaps. 5 and 6 about the historical use of the bully pulpit by the U.S. Presidents and their First Ladies, not only for food policy but also for many other social and cultural causes.