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 January E-Newsletter
Dear Reader,
Starting a new year gives us another chance to plan, look ahead and think optimistically about what the future holds for obesity in America. Reflecting on changes in 2011 and what’s in store for 2012, we see areas of great progress, but also areas where that progress is met with great challenges.
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.
NEW: STOP Obesity Alliance Revised Recommendations
The Alliance's policy recommendations focus on five key areas where both the private and public sectors can impact the nation's ongoing struggle.
Recommendation One: Redefining Success
Explore the use of a five to ten percent sustained reduction of current weight as the appropriate measure of success for the purpose of determining whether treatment interventions and innovations are effective.
Recommendation Two: Encourage Innovation and Multifactorial Interventions to Strengthen the System of Care for Overweight and Obesity
Aggressively explore multifactorial interventions that can achieve a five to ten percent sustained weight loss for those whose condition has not been successfully addressed solely by nutrition and physical activity and for whom bariatric surgery is not an option. Motivate payers, insurers and employers to encourage innovation around these treatments and disease management.
Recommendation Three: Address and Reduce Stigma as a Barrier to Improving Health Outcomes
Cultivate a positive environment by promoting awareness and open discussion among health professionals, opinion leaders, role models (e.g., parents, teachers, coaches) and the public of the harmful impact of stigmatizing people with overweight and obesity and promote interventions that provide support for sustained weight loss and go beyond recognizing the role of personal responsibility.
Recommendation Four: Broaden, Intensify and Coordinate the Research Agenda for Obesity
Encourage an interdisciplinary research environment that addresses the obesity epidemic as a result of a complex interplay of biological, genetic, behavioral, cultural, environmental, social, policy and economic factors.
Recommendation Five: Encouraging Physical Activity for Improved Health
Encouraging interventions and creating environments that support physical activity will improve health, independent of weight or weight loss, resulting in a healthier population.
To see the full recommendations, click here.