Scripps, McDonald’s Align to Fight Childhood Obesity, Diabetes

Global fast-food giant McDonald’s Corporation has entered into collaboration with The Scripps Research Institute to research and drive educational initiatives towards a solution to childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes.

McDonald’s will contribute $2 million to the La Jolla, California-based Scripps. The move is the first of its kind for the fast-food chain, which over recent years has faced increasing criticism for its alleged role in the US obesity epidemic.

Richard Lerner, president of The Scripps Research Institute, said: “More than 13% of children and adolescents in the US are overweight and the number is growing at a critical rate. With obesity often comes debilitating, even fatal Type 2 diabetes. These are epidemics that America cannot ignore.”

The biomedical research carried out by the institute will be under the auspices of the newly created McDonald’s Center for Type 2 Diabetes and Obesity.