Legislative approaches to the obesity epidemic.

Legislative bodies in the United States have often passed laws to regulate food in its production, content, and sale. Additionally, legislatures have created economic policies that directly affect the food supply and determine both the type and quantity of food available. Legislatively-enacted federal programs, such as the National School Lunch Program, also provide opportunities to promote good nutrition. These traditional areas of legislation represent the most efficient means to affect the food environment legislatively. While exploring legislative solutions to obesity, it is also imperative to monitor attempts by the legislature to constrain other public health strategies by limiting private enforcement and limiting the regulatory freedom of traditional public health authorities.