New Report Shows Rise in U.S. Obesity Rates
by Michael Karpman and Katie Meade
Obesity rates continue to rise in the U.S., according to a new report from the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH). The report highlights the need for more effective policies and approaches to address the growing obesity epidemic.
NLC, through its Institute for Youth, Education, and Families (YEF Institute), is working with city leaders to design policies and practices that will reverse current childhood obesity trends. The YEF Institute is partnering with the American Association of School Administrators (AASA) to assist municipal and school district officials in six cities in the implementation of local wellness plans to reduce childhood obesity. In addition, the institute has published an action kit on Combating Childhood Obesity, which is available at www.nlc.org/iyef.
Report Findings
The TFAH report found that adult obesity rates rose in 31 states last year and did not decline in any states. The report also found that obesity rates among children ages 10-17 range from a high of 22.8 percent in Washington, D.C., to a low of 8.5 percent in Utah. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of overweight children were located in the South. The report highlights a dramatic rise in obesity rates in recent years. In 1991, no state had adult obesity rates of more than 20 percent; in 2006, 19 states had adult obesity rates above 25 percent.
Report findings showed that substantial majorities of Americans believe that obesity rates have reached epidemic proportions (85 percent), and that government has a role in addressing the crisis (81 percent).
The report recommends comprehensive approaches that involve government at all levels, as well as schools, communities, health professionals, employers, and the food and beverage industry. Additional recommendations in the report include providing safe places for recreation and ensuring that students have access to nutritious food and physical activity during school.
“There has been a breakthrough in terms of drawing attention to the obesity epidemic,” said Jeff Levi, executive director of TFAH. “Now we need a breakthrough in terms of policies and results.”
Implications of Rising Obesity
Childhood obesity can lead to a number of serious health problems such as diabetes, and can increase the risk of having a stroke, heart attack or high blood pressure later in life. Children who are obese may also face mental health risks and body image issues as a result of teasing by peers.
Growing childhood obesity rates can also mean serious consequences for local government and businesses. The National Institutes of Health have estimated that increases in childhood obesity will cost families, businesses and governments nearly $100 billion per year in future health care costs alone.
Local Wellness Planning Project
The YEF Institute is continuing its efforts to help city leaders play influential roles in reversing the childhood obesity epidemic. The YEF Institute-AASA project will help city-school teams in Charleston, S.C.; Jackson, Tenn.; La Mesa, Calif.; Oakland, Calif.; San Antonio; and Savannah, Ga., develop and implement local wellness plans that encourage healthy eating and physical activity. These plans often build on the school wellness plans that were required of all school districts participating in federal school breakfast and lunch programs as of the 2006-2007 school year.
The YEF Institute’s action kit for municipal leaders on Combating Childhood Obesity identifies ways in which municipal leaders can shape policies and practices to influence residents’ activity levels and food choices. The action kit outlines several strategies that cities are using to reduce obesity rates, including joint use agreements, afterschool and parks and recreation programs, local food councils, and land use and zoning policies.
The action kit also focuses on ways to reach groups most at risk of being overweight by promoting policies to bring supermarkets, farmers’ markets, parks and playgrounds to low-income neighborhoods; increase food stamp program uptake among eligible families; and ensure that children receive nutritious food in school.
Finally, city officials can sign up to receive a monthly electronic newsletter by joining the YEF Institute’s Childhood Obesity Network for Municipal Leaders. This network will highlight the progress of the six technical assistance project cities, allow municipal leaders to learn and share best practices from peers in other cities, and connect registrants with other useful information and resources.
Details: To read the full Trust for America’s Health report, visit www.healthyamericans.org. To download a copy of the YEF Institute’s action kit on Combating Childhood Obesity, visit www.nlc.org/iyef. To join the Childhood Obesity Network, contact Tiffany Mitchell at (202) 626-3014 or send an email to fellow@nlc.org.
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