The fellowship is for students who are interested in nutrition and obesity-related medical issues and diseases and will be run through Yale’s M.D –PhD program. The gift is to be divided out over a five year time span. However, there are reports that people feel Pepsi is not being genuine about its intent to research nutritional aspects to help improve their products. Pepsi produces many products, many of the most profitable of which are not considered to be healthy foods including a variety of soft drinks like Mountain Dew, Gatorade, and Cheetos. The company does make healthier items but they are not as profitable.

The Yale community and activists have unleashed criticism of the $250,000 gift, presented in December but Yale School of Medicine Dean Robert Alpern believes the university didn’t do anything wrong when they accepted the fellowship money. The school believes the gift was ethical and related an analogy of a tobacco company giving school grants will aid in promoting smoking. The Dean stated many schools will not take money from tobacco companies but there was no ban on taking monetary gifts from the food industry.

Many feel any results from the study would be biased and ultimately only help to serve the bottom line at Pepsi. Critics also are concerned about the message being sent regarding the financial relationship between the University and PepsiCo and scholarly research. Activists have been pointing towards new studies that show soft drinks are a leading contributor to thousands of cases of diabetes and are doubtful Pepsi-funded researchers will pinpoint soft drinks as a part of the ongoing obesity problems.

A new laboratory was opened in New Haven, CT adjacent to Yale’s campus with Pepsi’s intent to improve the nutrition profile of their food and beverages. The company has also added clinical scientists and food nutrition experts to its staff. Chief scientific officer Dr. Mehmood Khan stated that the working done in New Haven along with the collaboration of world-renowned scientists will lead to nutritional advancements for people around the world and make it possible to improve people’s overall diets. Over the past three years, the company has increased investments in research and development by 40% and acquired companies that produce healthy items like dairy, hummus, nuts, and juices.

Pepsi (NYSE: PEP) Sponsorship Bubbles Over At Yale was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

In an effort to combat childhood obesity, first lady Michelle Obama launched “Let’s Move”, a campaign geared to teach young people across the country the importance of nutrition and exercise.

Increased physical activity, healthier food in schools around the country, and correcting inaccurate labeling on food products are at the heart of the program. Some of her objectives, like tax breaks for grocery stores who move to poorly served communities, will require assistance from Congress.

Obesity has been a sensitive subject for many years now. Experts claim that obesity will eventually become the number one preventable causes of death in the world, overtaking cigarette smoking. In fact, some experts are already claiming that obesity has climbed to the top of the list.

To improve nutrition in schools, Obama plans to seek action from Congress in hopes of ridding vending machines that contain snacks and sugary drinks. One of her goals is for schools to serve more fruits, vegetables and grains, while eliminating access to candy, cakes, sodas, and salty foods.

Bigger reimbursements for schools who offer breakfast for students are also being pushed by the Obama administration, as many schools do not offer this service to their students.

Unhealthy school lunches and snacks have long been a contributing factor in childhood obesity. Many experts say that kids who eat lunch at school are just as likely to become overweight as kids who do not eat school lunches. Some even go as far as saying that school lunches are no healthier than eating meals from fast-food restaurants.

Increasing physical activity in children to 60 minutes each day is another key initiative in the Obama plan. This may prove to be a tall order in an era where cell phones, televisions, and computer dominate most kids’ lives.

Obesity accounts for many diseases, including: diabetes, stroke, kidney failure, liver disease, hypertension, and countless other ailments. Over 40 million Americans are obese, while 3 million are considered morbidly obese. There has been a 78% increase in the number of Type II diabetes cases since 1990, mostly blamed on the obesity epidemic. Obesity is directly related to nearly 70 percent of all heart-related diseases. It is estimated that 30 percent of children are obese, whereas twenty years ago only 4 percent of children in the Untied States were considered obese.

Michelle Obama Launches Campaign to Fight Obesity was created by and is property of American Consumer News.

There are several things that people can cut out or make changes to in their lives that would not only make them wealthy, it would also help them get healthy and wise.

Being Overweight

Having extra weight can be a big strain on your body and health. Likewise, you will most likely end up paying in several ways for the additional pounds. Insurance premiums can cost you more money because of the studies related to the medical problems often resulting from being overweight. Those who are obese can find themselves paying more for other things such as seats on an airline, plus-sized clothing, and other specialty items that may be required.

Smoking/Drugs

While there is a big difference between smoking cigarettes and shooting heroine, the two can be categorized together because they are both addictions, they both can be harmful to your health, and they both can cost you a lot of money over time. Bad habits like these are hard to quit but for those looking to make some serious changes in their lives and financial future, quitting such addictions seems like a great place to start.

Gambling

This should go without saying that those with a gambling problem probably need more than one lesson in the fine art of money management. However, many people fail to consider their purchase of a daily lottery ticket as a big deal. But the truth is, there are a lot better ways to save a dollar than to risk it on a game of chance. The same is true for those who frequent weekly bingo games, participate in charity raffles, or who spend to much on other people’s fundraisers. Of course it is wonderful to help charities and support community events, if you are living beyond your means, you are doing yourself much of a favor.

Hobbies

Having a hobby is a healthy activity to pursue; however, people sometimes have a hard time controlling their purchases when it comes to their passions. If you are spending too much money on supplies or not incorporating the costs of maintaining your hobby into your budget, there will be some serious issues that can arise in your financial situation.

These are only a few of the things that can be draining your wallet, with or without your knowledge. A great place to start is by tracking every single one of your expenses for a month to see what you are spending, where you are spending, and if you are really buying things you need and not just the things you want.

Are You Losing Money with Extra Pounds? was created by and is property of American Consumer News.