Cory Booker, ex-senator Bill Frist team up to fight childhood obesity

theGRIO REPORT - Former Tennessee Republican senator Bill Frist and Democratic mayor Cory Booker of Newark acted as honorary vice chairmen of Partnership for a Healthier America, a non-profit organization that's on a mission to fight childhood obesity...

Former Tennessee Republican senator Bill Frist and Democratic mayor Cory Booker of Newark acted as honorary vice chairmen of Partnership for a Healthier America, a non-profit organization on a mission to fight childhood obesity.

They appeared on MSNBC’s Morning Joe to discuss the organization’s second annual event and future plans.

Partnership for a Healthier America released a statistic saying that “if current trends continue, roughly half of all Americans will be obese by 2030.”

“It’s an epidemic,” said Frist, noting obesity was not a problem 30 years ago.

“Right now one in four of our young kids ages 17 to 24, military age,” adds Booker, “don’t qualify to serve in the military.”

The honorary chairmen noted that industry giants, such as Walmart and Hyatt, have partnered with Partnership for a Healthier America, making pledges to help bring healthier food choices to their costumers.

Booker explained that in an effort to hold corporations accountable for their commitments, they will give an annual “report that serves as a mirror to how well have they done.”

Throughout the discussion, Frist and Booker emphasized the need for private and public sectors to work together with the government to address childhood obesity.

Follow Carrie Healey on Twitter @CarrieHeals

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