Greetings!  

  
The volume of news on obesity has been increasing.  Commentaries on childhood obesity, chronic diseases, personal responsibility and will power, and potential regulations and taxes on the food industry have become more prominent in the media.
 
This month, an article appeared in the The Atlantic by politics editor Marc Ambinder which really piqued my interest.  The article, "Beating Obesity," provides a candid commentary on his own struggle with weight.  He also raises a number of interesting thoughts about what might stand in the way of addressing this issue - from a lack of effective public and private sector policies to continued stigma and the commercialization of obesity. 
 
This article and others like it represent a shift in the quality of the conversations we're having on obesity.  First, there is recognition that this is about health rather than appearance.  Obesity affects 34 percent of adults and half as many children.  It accelerates more than 20 chronic diseases including diabetes, heart disease and some cancers. 
 
Second, people are beginning to understand that while personal responsibility is part of the solution, it is not the complete answer.  Equally important is that further isolating those who are obese is more likely to compound the problem rather than solve it.  Finally, we know now that losing weight may not be the hardest task.  The roller-coaster weight-loss ride many experience demonstrates that dropping those initial pounds may be the easy part - sustaining the weight loss over the long term is the real challenge.  
 
The Alliance is doing its part in shifting the conversation.  A few weeks ago we co-hosted an amazing panel discussion with the National Eating Disorders Association on effectively communicating weight and health in the media; last week, The Huffington Post published a column I wrote exploring the potential dangers of reality shows like "The Biggest Loser"; and, early next month, we are launching the STOP Obesity Alliance Task Force on Women to take a closer look at obesity and chronic disease in women and their families. 
 
As the discussion about obesity and chronic disease heats up, it's up to all of us to make sure the quality continues to improve.  I'm confident that this change is coming - one conversation at a time.