Haley, health officials discussing obesity - Live5News.com | Charleston, SC | News, Weather, Sports

By MEG KINNARD
Associated Press

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - Gov. Nikki Haley and the chiefs of the state's health and social services agencies are discussing how to combat obesity in South Carolina.

Haley's office says the Republican will attend a meeting Thursday at the Department of Health and Environmental Control to be part of an announcement about a collaborative effort to improve the state's health.

Fighting obesity is a major goal for DHEC Director Catherine Templeton. Earlier this year, Templeton said she'd like to see the state restrict what people can buy with food stamps, cutting out junk food and soft drinks.

Those federally funded benefits are administered by the Department of Social Services, which would need permission from the federal government to restrict purchases. Haley's office says DSS Director Lillian Koller will also be at Thursday's meeting.

Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP

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