Big problem, small solution.

When the going gets tough, the tough get soft. That ought to be the motto of Secretary Tommy Thompson's Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

Last March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention--a unit of HHS--reported that in 2000 poor diet and physical inactivity caused about 400,000 premature deaths in the United States, up from 300,000 a decade earlier.

Instead of hauling out the howitzers and announcing a war to overhaul the nation's diet, Secretary Thompson brandished a few popguns: public-service announcements (TV ads at 3 in the morning to remind people to use the steps, not the elevator), a proposal to print calories on food labels in larger type, i Web site called www.smallstep.gov (small step #25: "work around the house"), and a slight increase in research spending (on drugs and surgery to treat obesity, among other things).

Last December, Secretary Thompson came up with another popgun: awards. "Once you start giving out awards for a particular company, a particular fast-food-industry recipient, or a soft drink," he explained, "I think the other ones are going to say, 'You know, I want the award next time and I'm going to do more to get it.'"

Great. Close to half a million people die prematurely because of bad diets and lack of exercise and we get awards! What about requiring chain restaurants to list calories on menus? Or kicking junk foods out of schools? Not in the cards, says Secretary Thompson. Don't expect the Agriculture Department to take any bold actions either.

At least others are doing something. Numerous school systems are ditching exclusive deals with soft-drink companies and are banning junk foods. McDonald's is dropping its "supersize" soft drinks and fries (patrons will have to make do with merely "large" 310-calorie sodas and 540-calorie fries). Ruby Tuesday restaurants have switched to a trans-free cooking oil, and the chain is adding some healthful dishes and printing calories and a few other nutrients on its menus.

What's motivating those and other changes? I suspect it isn't the lure of a certificate signed by Secretary Thompson. More likely it's angry parents, enlightened officials, new laws on the horizon (half a dozen states are considering legislation to require calories and other nutrients on menus), and the fear of lawsuits.

For its part, the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the nonprofit publisher of Nutrition Action Healthletter, is working hard in Washington and with local activists around the country. You can help by mailing the coupon to Agriculture Secretary Veneman (or writing her a personal note). Drop me a line by mail or at [e-mail] if you'd like to do more.