Is the Obesity Epidemic Leveling Off? Don’t be too Sure.
Recently, CDC epidemiologists published an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association to the effect that there was not a significant change over the past 12 years in the nation’s obesity rate of 35.5% for adult men and 35.8% for adult women.
STOP Obesity Alliance December E-Newsletter
Dear Reader,
A former Commissioner of Public Health and Medicaid Director, I have watched closely the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the increasing number of decisions that will be determined at the state level. Just this month, for example, HHS released its guidance on the “essential health benefits” which largely gives states the flexibility to tailor the benefits offered in the Health Exchange to the needs of their own residents.
Click here to read more.
A Legislative Low-Down on Obesity and the States
Webinar Examined State Trends & Upcoming Issues on Obesity & Related Chronic Diseases
The STOP Obesity Alliance hosted a webinar on Tuesday, December 6, in which experts discussed state legislative activities related to obesity and weight-related chronic disease that could signal broader trends in the future. Topics included obesity surveillance and tracking efforts, food and beverage taxes, and efforts to restrict state employee benefits plan coverage. Click here to view the webinar.
The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance brings together a diverse and powerful group of consumer, provider, government, labor, business, health insurers and quality-of-care organizations to stop, think and change how we perceive and approach the problem of obesity, overweight, and weight-related health risks, including heart disease and diabetes.
The goal of the STOP Obesity Alliance is to go beyond awareness and consumer education efforts to identify and address systemic and cultural barriers that are failing to adequately support individual successes.
The STOP Obesity Alliance is focused on:
Conducting and assembling research that identifies any cultural and systemic biases in combating obesity and its related health conditions, such as cardiovascular diseases and diabetes.
Developing and supporting research-based initiatives to improve care and prevention.
Making recommendations and promoting needed systems changes.
Report Identifies Community Health Centers as America’s “First Responders” in Fighting Obesity
In a paper released today, the Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance identified a wide gap between the anticipated increase of people with weight-related conditions entering the health care system and a corresponding limited number of health professionals who are trained to help them.
Improving Obesity Management in Primary Care and Community Health Centers
The Alliance identifies community health centers and primary care providers as obesity's "first responders" as the nation continues to implement the Affordable Care Act and a newly insured population seeks weight-related health care.
STOP Obesity Alliance's Essential Health Benefits Task Force Essential Health Benefits Recommendations
Essential Benefits Task Force has developed recommendations to help inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services regarding treatments for obesity and related co-morbidities that should be considered essential health benefits and covered by all non-grandfathered qualified health plans.
Building a Healthier Nation with Effective Communication and Legislation
The STOP Obesity Alliance, in conjunction with the National Eating Disorders Association, developed new weight and health discussion guidelines for policymakers. The recommendations call for policymakers to responsibly address weight and health by adhering to evidence-based principles when discussing and developing weight-related health policies.
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Out-of-shape system: Today’s health care industry treats effects of obesity without addressing root causes
… After years of going from doctor to doctor and taking pill after pill to treat his various ailments, he was tired of never fully dealing with the root cause of his problems. He was fat.