The recent health care debate focused mostly on the sins of the health insurance industry and the political clout of the pharmaceutical industry to cut a secret deal with the White House protecting its ability to continue charging Americans higher prices for drugs than are paid in other countries.

The year-long heatlth care discussion revealed multiple reasons why Americans spend nearly twice as much on health care, per capita, as citizens of other countries. One cause, only rarely mentioned in the health care debate, is the American diet and lifestyle.

In recent weeks and days, however, the American diet, including school lunches fed to millions of children, has come under increased scrutiny.

Tuesday's Butler Eagle featured a front-page article by the Associated Press about a group of retired military officers who are concerned that an estimated 27 percent of young adults, between the ages of 17 and 25, are too overweight to join the military. The former officers brought their concerns to Congress, urging passage of a wide-ranging nutrition bill to make school lunches healthier.

The idea that overweight, out-of-shape young Americans can be viewed as a national security threat might strike many people as alarmist and over-the-top. But, there is no denying that Americans are increasingly overweight and unhealthy. And this trend has serious financial consequences when it comes to national health care costs. Illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes and other ailments associated with obesity and unhealthy diets will add tens of billions of dollars a year to the cost of health care in the United States.

Two other reports were issued this week focusing more attention on problems associated with the average American's diet. The U.S. Department of Agriculture issued a report showing that most Americans consume 156 pounds of added sugar a year, and the added sugar increases the risk of heart disease, diabetes and strokes.

While many foods have naturally occurring sugars, manufacturers generally add sugars to make foods more appealing, especially to children and teenagers. Cereals and snacks aimed at children are notorious for added sugars. A recent study published in the New England Journal of Medicine found that American teenagers consume six times the recommended daily sugar intake, with much of the extra sugar coming from sodas and other sweetened drinks.

The health implications of this suggest that the idea of a tax on sweetened soft drinks is not unreasonable, despite reactionary charges of "food police" tactics.

In addition to the sobering sugar study, the Food and Drug Administration this week focused attention on the need for Americans to cut their salt intake to reduce the incidence of high blood pressure, kidney failure and strokes.

Some major food companies, including PepsiCo, Kraft and Campbell Soup Co., no doubt trying to ward off tougher government regulations, have already begun to reduce the salt in their manufactured food products.

The FDA says that reduced sodium consumption could save 100,000 lives a year and reduce national health care costs by billions of dollars annually.

And this renewed focus on the food we eat is showing up on prime-time television, through the ABC reality show "Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution." The show follows the young British chef's efforts to change the eating habits of people in Huntington, W. Va., which, along with a neighboring Kentucky county, was profiled by a 2008 national health survey as having the highest levels of obesity in America.

Oliver, who has been credited with bringing healthy changes to Britain's school lunch program, argues that Americans "need to start cooking again, to make sure our children don't grow up on a diet of processed food, at school or at home, so they don't have to battle obesity and diet-related illnesses when they grow up."

At the core of Oliver's effort is the simple act of cooking. He says that processed foods served in too many schools and homes contain unhealthy amounts of sugar or high-fructose corn syrup, salt and other unhealthy ingredients. His message: Cook real foods in schools and at home; eat more fresh and unprocessed foods.

Like the retired military officers, Oliver wants to see changes in America's school cafeterias. He says millions of taxpayer dollars are being spent on a diet featuring too much processed food, too many unhealthy snacks and sweetened drinks. His food revolution movement is pushing for new federal regulations that restrict processed foods and boost fresh, locally sourced foods, encouraging school cooks to go back to the old days — and actually cook food from scratch.

One way to start this transformation is for parents to ask officials at their children's schools about school lunches. How often are meals cooked from fresh ingredients? What percentage of meals are processed foods? What are the figures for sugar, salt and calories in school meals?

Some school districts probably do a better job than others in providing healthy foods to their students. Those that have made changes for the better will be glad to talk. Schools that have not, however, will be less likely to talk about the nutrition characteristics of the meals they serve to students.

All schools should be looking for ways to do better, and exceed current government standards. Having parents ask questions, make suggestions and get involved would help energize schools to do their part in making America's kids healthier.

It's in everyone's self-interest to be more concerned about the food they eat. Eating a healthier diet is good for each of us, our children, grandchildren and the country as a whole.

Oliver's food revolution is exactly the kind of effort that's needed to help make it happen.