IOM Workshop
Reports On The Epidemiology And
Current State of Obesity Solutions In The US
Calorie
Reduction Goals Are Achievable With Existing Strategies, Say Experts
A new report from an
IOM Workshop on obesity earlier this year gives the latest snapshot
on the occurrence of obesity in the US population. Obesity in both
adult men and women is now very high at approximately 35%. Examining
the result by ethnic group shows no ethnic disparity for men but
striking disparities for women. About 30 percent of white women are
obese, 40% of Hispanic women, and more than 50% of African American
women.
The Good News
The good news is that obesity among women and girls has plateaued,
albeit at a high level, and obesity rates have decreased
significantly among low-income children aged 2-5. However, there are
several trends that continue to be of serious concern.
The Bad News
Severe obesity (A
BMI greater than 120% of the 95th percentile) in
children, adolescents, and adults continues to increase.
Approximately 6-7%
of girls overall are severely obese and rates are especially high in
African American and Hispanic girls (White girls just under 4%,
Hispanic girls approximately 5%, and African American girls
approximately 9%).
Boys show similar
trends and disparities although both Hispanic and African American
boys have a high prevalence of approximately 7%.
Over the 12 years
from 1999-2000 to 2009-2010, severe obesity increased from 6.2% to
8.1% among women and from 3.1% among men to 4.4%. African American
women have a severe obesity rate which is approximately 18% or
almost 1 in 5. The financial costs of obesity are high. Obesity
accounted for $147 billion in health care costs in 2008 or 9 percent
of the national health care budget which rose from 6.5% in 2008.
Calorie Impact Goals
Workshop presenters
discussed a model estimating the size of the calorie deficits needed
at the population level to achieve national goals for reducing
obesity prevalence. To achieve a 10% prevalence rate in adults
through prevention by 2020 would require a reduction of
approximately 220 calories per day. For children and adolescents,
the needed deficits are much smaller and estimated at between 33
calories for the youngest to 177 calories for the oldest children up
to age 19. William Dietz, former CDC expert on obesity who
presented the overview at the workshop, said these calorie reduction
goals are achievable with the strategies being implemented today.
Winning Strategies
What are some of
these winning strategies? Among the policy interventions which can
have the desired caloric impact are eliminating sugar-sweetened
drinks, switching from whole to low fat milk in early care and
education centers, decreasing fast food consumption, mandatory
physical education, classroom activity breaks, and walking or biking
to school where possible.
Massachusetts In
Motion
A
presentation about initiatives in Massachusetts showed that it is
possible to reduce prevalence of obesity statewide among residents.
Mass in Motion is a multi-faceted state initiative focused on better
eating and increased physical activity. Included are activities
around farmers’ markets, community gardens, implementation of school
nutrition standards, the building and repairing of sidewalks, the
provision of lighting and safe activities in communities, joint use
agreements between communities and universities to use facilities,
and the creation of new walking and biking trails. According to the
workshop summary, BMI reporting has revealed significant reductions
in obesity and overweight in the Mass in Motion communities,
especially in grades 1 and 4.
To read the report,
visit
http://tinyurl.com/o79logd
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