Posts Tagged ‘obesity’

MNewbert
Marcia
Newbert

Michelle Obama: Taking on Obesity

Monday, February 1st, 2010

In his State of the Union Address Wednesday evening, President Barack Obama praised First Lady Michelle Obama for "creating a national movement to tackle the epidemic of childhood obesity and make kids healthier." Less than 24 hours later, Mrs. Obama joined U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and U.S. Surgeon General Regina Benjamin to announce the release of The Surgeon General's Vision for a Healthy and Fit Nation.

The paper, which is Dr. Benjamin's first release to the nation since being sworn in as Surgeon General earlier this month, includes recommendations for helping Americans to adopt healthier lives through better nutrition and regular physical activity. The paper also encourages communities to be actively involved in creating healthier living environments and combating obesity. (more...)

Posted in Community Involvement, Food Policy and Nutrition, Public Health, Uncategorized
By MNewbert | 3 Comments »

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jseng
John
Seng

Mr. Obama: Unite The Health Of Our State With The State Of Our Health

Friday, January 29th, 2010
Green area highlighted denotes the health reform section in the White House transcript of President Obama’s State of the Union Address, a little less than 8 percent.

Green area highlighted denotes the health reform section in the White House transcript of President Obama’s State of the Union Address, a little less than 8 percent.

My fellow Americans: President Obama read through nearly half of his 2010 State of the Union speech Wednesday evening before he arrived at, and all-too-briefly reviewed, what I still consider the nation's number one challenge, and indeed crisis: health care.

Interestingly, he described it as health insurance reform, which is a curious refinement from "health reform" or "health care reform." More unfortunate is that  the subject of health reform as Mr. Obama's #1 agenda item - prior to Scott Brown's surprise win of the open Senate seat in Massachusetts just nine days earlier -ultimately won less than eight percent space and time overall in the President's speech.

Whatever your politics, the newly sidelined health reform and our declining health as a nation deserved more time and a profound call-to-action from our leader. (more...)

Posted in Congress, Food Policy and Nutrition, Health Care Industry, Health Care Reform, Health Policy, Public Health
By John Seng | No Comments »

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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

More Evidence on Menu Labeling

Monday, November 2nd, 2009

In early October, a study from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation revealed menu labeling did not affect decision making about food choices. These results were disappointing - as cities around the country have rushed to pass initiatives in order to provide consumers more information when purchasing food away from the home.

However, a new study released late last week from The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provided more encouraging results. Looking at 13 fast-food and coffee chains, the study found recognition of the posted calorie information and statistically significant changes in food purchased at a few of the locations surveyed.

Why the different results? The first study, from researchers at New York University and Yale University, focused entirely on low-income, minority neighborhoods, included fewer establishments and was conducted in a short time span. The City's study was more diverse, had more participants, and was not confined to a specific socioeconomic neighborhood. (more...)

Posted in Health Care Industry, Public Health
By CMorrison | No Comments »

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CMorrison
Catherine
Morrison

Evidence Based Menus

Friday, October 9th, 2009

"Is there a healthy future? Obesity and with it diabetes are getting worse. The human and financial costs are enormous. There is emerging evidence based on how to address obesity both from a public health standpoint and from a policy standpoint. I do not think that we can wait for perfect evidence and in fact I think the existence of evidence will be facilitated by action with programs which are implemented and then rigorously evaluated. The question I think before us and what we have to weigh as a group as we consider the weight of the nation is whether we as a society are willing to take the actions necessary to reverse the epidemic of obesity."

That was Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in July of this year at the first ever conference on obesity, The Weight of the Nation, in Washington, DC.  The statement struck me at the time, because the public health community - particularly the academic side - is very focused on the need for evidence.  However, sometimes, you just have to try something and see if it works. The current obesity epidemic couldn't provide better justification for trying new ideas.

(more...)

Posted in Public Affairs, Public Health
By CMorrison | No Comments »

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Spectrum

Something’s Gotta Give, But What Will It Take?

Monday, August 24th, 2009

At the end of July, the Spectrum team attended the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Weight of the Nation conference, which featured public health experts, medical personnel, and policymakers, coming together to discuss obesity in America. The conference - the CDC's first on the topic - was a direct response to the fast growing epidemic of obesity in America. For example:

  • More than 60 percent of American adults and 30 percent of American children are overweight and obese, which can lead to many chronic health risks, including diabetes, heart disease, and hypertension, and
  • The United States ranks last among nations in reducing the number of preventable deaths resulting from obesity-related chronic illnesses (CDC).

(more...)

Posted in Congress, Disease Awareness, Health Policy, Public Affairs
By Spectrum | No Comments »

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