“Weight of the Nation”, the Centers for Disease Control’s inaugural conference on obesity prevention and control, concluded its three-day line-up of speakers and activities yesterday. The conference, which took place at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington, DC featured prominent health leaders and international public policy makers discussing current and future wellness initiatives on the path to global health.
The conference goals were to:
1. Identify strategies to facilitate obesity prevention on personal, local, and international levels.
2. Discuss economic analysis of obesity prevention and control efforts (for example, costs and benefits within the health care system).
3. Discuss the use of legislation, government regulation, and policies as a way to combat obesity.
4. Explain and evaluate accumulating evidence to promote certain policies and environmental strategies in obesity prevention.
Some of the ideas discussed were large-scale projects such as re-designing the infrastructure of a city to include wider sidewalks, more green space, or pedestrian-friendly routes connecting counties. Other changes suggested, however, are equally significant, but more manageable in a short period of time.
Indiana state health commissioner, Judy Monroe, suggested that school bus drivers could drop children off several minutes from school. Each day, an adult could meet the children and walk them safely to school from a few blocks away. This small change could increase the daily activity level of some youngsters by ten minutes or more. Another small shift takes place in the cafeteria. If candy and junk food prices are increased, kids are more likely to reach for apples or carrot sticks during lunchtime. Some schools have already set up an affordable healthy lunch program that provides fresh fruit and vegetables as well as pizza made with whole wheat crust and organic milk instead of soda.
Although public health officials face many challenges in their attempts to affect change, there are numerous creative ideas that encourage positive behavior modification and realistic lifestyle changes for Americans.
The CDC's inaugural conference didn't have all the answers for obesity prevention and global health management, but it did provide an interactive forum for brainstorming ideas and sharing information. That's a great start!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Iowa: 90% Corn, 27% Obesity
The Eskimo Pie - a chocolate covered ice cream bar - was invented in Iowa by Onawa native Chris Nelson. In the years following the birth of this decadent treat, the Iowa obesity rate increased to 27%. Recently, the Iowa Department of Public Health launched the Healthy Iowans 2010 program to promote health and wellness among the state’s residents in a realistic way. In order to accomplish this, the IDPH lists several wellness strategies, which include:
• The promotion of health for all ages
• The promotion of physical activity and nutrition
• The prevention and management of chronic disease
The division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention has established programs to encourage healthy living among Iowans by educating residents on issues of wellness. One such program, Iowans Fit for Life, brings state and local partners together to build a network of health-conscious citizens dedicated to nutrition and exercise. This initiative aims to improve the health of Iowans by reducing the risks and preventing disease related to inactivity and unhealthy eating behaviors. Currently, there are more than 500 partners in the network.
One way the IDHP measures state-wide health success is by tracking the consumption of fruits and vegetables among Iowans. Currently, health professionals urge Americans to eat 9-10 servings of produce every day, while dietary guidelines put the minimum consumption at 5 servings per day. Sadly, even the reminder for kids to "strive for five" fails to convey the importance of vegetables in a child's diet. Although Iowans eat fewer fruits and veggies than the national average, there appears to be a direct correlation between consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity. In this case, eating vegetables does not cause someone to exercise, and physical activity does not cause a person to eat vegetables, but rather, adults who make healthy decisions in one area of their lives, tend to make healthy decisions in other areas as well. As a result, tracking vegetable consumption can be a good indicator of increased physical activity as well as decreased health risks in the future.
The Iowa Department of Public Health has instituted at least one comprehensive program to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Iowans, but like many states, Iowa still has a long way to go!
• The promotion of health for all ages
• The promotion of physical activity and nutrition
• The prevention and management of chronic disease
The division of Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention has established programs to encourage healthy living among Iowans by educating residents on issues of wellness. One such program, Iowans Fit for Life, brings state and local partners together to build a network of health-conscious citizens dedicated to nutrition and exercise. This initiative aims to improve the health of Iowans by reducing the risks and preventing disease related to inactivity and unhealthy eating behaviors. Currently, there are more than 500 partners in the network.
One way the IDHP measures state-wide health success is by tracking the consumption of fruits and vegetables among Iowans. Currently, health professionals urge Americans to eat 9-10 servings of produce every day, while dietary guidelines put the minimum consumption at 5 servings per day. Sadly, even the reminder for kids to "strive for five" fails to convey the importance of vegetables in a child's diet. Although Iowans eat fewer fruits and veggies than the national average, there appears to be a direct correlation between consumption of fruits and vegetables and physical activity. In this case, eating vegetables does not cause someone to exercise, and physical activity does not cause a person to eat vegetables, but rather, adults who make healthy decisions in one area of their lives, tend to make healthy decisions in other areas as well. As a result, tracking vegetable consumption can be a good indicator of increased physical activity as well as decreased health risks in the future.
The Iowa Department of Public Health has instituted at least one comprehensive program to improve the overall health and wellbeing of Iowans, but like many states, Iowa still has a long way to go!
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Hoosiers Make Health a Priority!
Indiana might be known for car racing and Division I basketball, but governor Mitch Daniels is finally making Indiana about health. In 2007, Indiana implemented the Certified Wellness Tax Credit Program, which sought to recognize small employers in their efforts to improve Indiana’s health status by providing wellness programs for their employees. This program entitles the employer to a credit of 50% of the costs incurred for providing a comprehensive wellness program. In the first year, 54 employers were eligible for the credit and in 2008 the number increased to include 88 small companies. As of now, Indiana is the only state to successfully pass a tax credit for work site wellness programs, although the current health reform bill seeks to establish similar laws on a national level.
In the Indiana school system, a record 92 schools recently received the 2008-2009 Healthy Hoosier School Award. This award honors the Indiana schools that promote good nutrition and regular physical activity among students. The Healthy Hoosier School award has the ability to truly evoke change in individuals because it targets young children and encourages healthy habits from early on.
Another statewide health program is INShape Indiana. INShape Indiana provides a framework for personal or company-wide fitness initiatives so that Hoosiers and their employers can benefit from statewide-improved health. Accumulating research shows that healthy people perform better and save money for themselves, their employers, and the state. While none of this information is surprising, Indiana seems to be doing far more than most other states to encourage healthy living and increase general well being among its residents. As many of the programs are still fairly recent (most have existed for fewer than five years), there is not enough long-term data within the state of Indiana to confirm previous research that spending money on preventative health measures saves more money than treating health problems down the line. In the past two years however, research shows that Indiana has shifted from the 9th highest obesity rate in the US to the 16th. This shows a positive trend! Unfortunately, it is possible that instead of Hoosiers significantly improving their health, other states have merely been falling behind, thereby making Indiana look better by comparison.
For Hoosiers who want to take advantage of INShape Indiana, fitness fanatics in Indianapolis can walk, bike and run along the 15-mile Monon trail, credited with being one of the busiest trails in the nation. This "urban greenway" links commercial districts, schools, parks, the state fairgrounds and a dozen residential neighborhoods making it a convenient path for leisure or a morning commute.
Although midwestern states have continually demonstrated high levels of obesity and poor funding to help combat health issues, it seems as if Indiana governor Mitch Daniels is finally making Hoosier health a priority!
In the Indiana school system, a record 92 schools recently received the 2008-2009 Healthy Hoosier School Award. This award honors the Indiana schools that promote good nutrition and regular physical activity among students. The Healthy Hoosier School award has the ability to truly evoke change in individuals because it targets young children and encourages healthy habits from early on.
Another statewide health program is INShape Indiana. INShape Indiana provides a framework for personal or company-wide fitness initiatives so that Hoosiers and their employers can benefit from statewide-improved health. Accumulating research shows that healthy people perform better and save money for themselves, their employers, and the state. While none of this information is surprising, Indiana seems to be doing far more than most other states to encourage healthy living and increase general well being among its residents. As many of the programs are still fairly recent (most have existed for fewer than five years), there is not enough long-term data within the state of Indiana to confirm previous research that spending money on preventative health measures saves more money than treating health problems down the line. In the past two years however, research shows that Indiana has shifted from the 9th highest obesity rate in the US to the 16th. This shows a positive trend! Unfortunately, it is possible that instead of Hoosiers significantly improving their health, other states have merely been falling behind, thereby making Indiana look better by comparison.
For Hoosiers who want to take advantage of INShape Indiana, fitness fanatics in Indianapolis can walk, bike and run along the 15-mile Monon trail, credited with being one of the busiest trails in the nation. This "urban greenway" links commercial districts, schools, parks, the state fairgrounds and a dozen residential neighborhoods making it a convenient path for leisure or a morning commute.
Although midwestern states have continually demonstrated high levels of obesity and poor funding to help combat health issues, it seems as if Indiana governor Mitch Daniels is finally making Hoosier health a priority!
Tuesday, July 7, 2009
Illinois ranks 10th for Obese Children but Chicagoans Boast Numerous Opportunities for Fitness
The state of Illinois has been a hot topic in the media this year following the election of President Barack Obama, but endured increasingly negative publicity in the wake of the impeachment of Governor Blagojevich. Recently, Illinois faced more unfortunate press coverage, this time related to health and wellness.
According to a report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Illinois has the 10th highest percent nationally for obese children and one in five Illinois children (20.7 %) is obese. Another 14.2% are overweight. Although Illinois adults fared better than the children in the national ranking, the high number of unhealthy kids suggests that the state is not doing enough to target youngsters in wellness education. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago’s Children suggests five major ways to reform the current legislature to enhance wellness among young Chicagoans to lead to a healthier future:
1. Create an Illinois Food Policy Council to increase the production, distribution, access to and consumptions of healthy food.
2. Reform the physical education waiver process to allow for greater individual involvement among parents, organizations, and lawmakers to increase PE requirements in school.
3. Give $3 million to the Illinois Obesity Study and Prevention Fund to allow for state-wide infrastructure of obesity prevention.
4. Include Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in the mandate of the Illinois Early Learning Council to instill positive habits from a young age.
5. Establish a statewide Safe Routes to Schools and Parks program to enhance pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure.
While Illinois adults rank 27th nationally for obesity, the growing number of overweight children spells out trouble for the future health of the state. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are three diseases that often go hand in hand with unhealthy living. As a result, Illinois can expect a severe increase in health care costs as the children of the state grow up.
Although Illinois has a somewhat bleak health forecast, the city of Chicago offers some hope. Praised as “one of the coolest running paths in the nation” Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive offers up to 20 miles of paved, pedestrian-friendly asphalt. With endless opportunities to bike, Rollerblade, scooter, walk, and run, Lake Shore Drive offers Chicagoans an enticing environment for healthy living.
According to a report by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Illinois has the 10th highest percent nationally for obese children and one in five Illinois children (20.7 %) is obese. Another 14.2% are overweight. Although Illinois adults fared better than the children in the national ranking, the high number of unhealthy kids suggests that the state is not doing enough to target youngsters in wellness education. The Consortium to Lower Obesity in Chicago’s Children suggests five major ways to reform the current legislature to enhance wellness among young Chicagoans to lead to a healthier future:
1. Create an Illinois Food Policy Council to increase the production, distribution, access to and consumptions of healthy food.
2. Reform the physical education waiver process to allow for greater individual involvement among parents, organizations, and lawmakers to increase PE requirements in school.
3. Give $3 million to the Illinois Obesity Study and Prevention Fund to allow for state-wide infrastructure of obesity prevention.
4. Include Nutrition and Physical Activity Standards in the mandate of the Illinois Early Learning Council to instill positive habits from a young age.
5. Establish a statewide Safe Routes to Schools and Parks program to enhance pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure.
While Illinois adults rank 27th nationally for obesity, the growing number of overweight children spells out trouble for the future health of the state. Heart disease, cancer, and diabetes are three diseases that often go hand in hand with unhealthy living. As a result, Illinois can expect a severe increase in health care costs as the children of the state grow up.
Although Illinois has a somewhat bleak health forecast, the city of Chicago offers some hope. Praised as “one of the coolest running paths in the nation” Chicago’s Lake Shore Drive offers up to 20 miles of paved, pedestrian-friendly asphalt. With endless opportunities to bike, Rollerblade, scooter, walk, and run, Lake Shore Drive offers Chicagoans an enticing environment for healthy living.
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