Who, What, When, Why, How...

Introducing a state-wide alliance that is proposing bold, new solutions to Illinois' obesity epidemic

What: Obesity in the news!

Obesity is a major public health crisis that is frequently front-page news nationally and in Illinois.  Over the past several years, there has been no shortage of talk, or action, to try to solve the problem, with solutions ranging from First Lady Michelle Obama's upbeat Let's Move! campaign to a doctor's suggestion that extremely obese children be placed in foster care.

Of course, the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity does not support initiatives that would remove obese children from their homes. However, we are on the forefront of many bold, cutting-edge initiatives that empower communities and families to curb the obesity epidemic in Illinois. In order to keep members of the press and media informed of breaking news and periodic updates, we have included you on our press / media mailing list.

We believe updates about obesity prevention initiatives will be of interest to you, and hope that you will appreciate receiving occasional mailings from us.  As an introduction to the Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity, more information about the work we do is listed below.

Why: The extent of the problem

The American obesity epidemic threatens to overwhelm our healthcare system, cause huge increases in debilitating chronic disease and undermine our economy.  For example:

• In 1995, Illinois had an obesity rate of 15.3%.  Fast forward fifteen years, and the obesity rate in Illinois has nearly doubled.
• Ten years ago, not a single state had an obesity rate above 24%.  Today, 43 states have obesity rates that surpass even the highest rate of obesity from 2000.  Currently, the state with the lowest rate of obesity would have been the highest rated in 1995.  
• A 2005 report in the New England Journal of Medicine startled the nation with its prediction that the current generation of American children will have a shorter lifespan than their parents' generation -- due largely to obesity-related disease.
• Some experts predict that the annual cost of obesity to the Illinois health care system will increase to $14 billion or more a year by 2018. 
• Read more about the problem here.

How: Preventing obesity through coordinated, comprehensive policy, systems, and environmental changes  
 
Conventional wisdom says the solution is simple -- EAT LESS AND EXERCISE MORE.  Simple, but far from easy.  Unfortunately, being healthy is not just about individual choices.  New research provides solid evidence that where you live affects how you live. 

• Our schools and communities offer many more unhealthy food options and choices than healthy ones.    
   
• Healthy foods are usually more expensive than unhealthy options.    
   
• Our transportation systems and community infrastructures favor driving over walking.      
                                                           
• PE and recess are disappearing from our schools.     
   
• In some neighborhoods, it isn't safe for children to go out and play and many communities do not have grocery stores where fresh fruits and vegetables are available.

People cannot make healthy choices if healthy options are not available.  In order to make healthy choices, people need practical and readily available healthy options.  That's where policy, systems, and environmental change comes in to play. 

Policy, systems, and environmental change is a new way thinking about how to effectively improve health in a community.  By changing laws and shaping physical landscapes, a big impact can be made with little time and resources.  IAPO's State Obesity Action Roadmap and 3-Year Goals outlines bold policy, systems, and environmental change strategies to reverse Illinois' obesity epidemic.    
 
Who: About us

The Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity (IAPO) is a coalition of more than 100 diverse organizations -- including charitable and religious groups, business and corporate entities, state and local government organizations, health care providers, coalitions and citizen groups -- that seek to reverse the dangerous and costly trends associated with obesity in Illinois. 

The State Obesity Action Roadmap and 3-Year Goals are bold solutions to Illinois' obesity epidemic -- solutions that are on scale with the seriousness of the problem we face.

If you know people who may be interested in this work, please click the yellow "Forward this email to a friend" button at the bottom of the page and encourage them to join our mailing list.

Warm regards,    

Elissa Bassler 

Exec. Dir., Illinois Alliance to Prevent Obesity

CEO, Illinois Public Health Institute