Letter From The Director
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Greetings!
I have just read the new F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010 report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The news is not good. Adult obesity rates have increased in 28 states and only decreased in the District of Columbia. Even more disturbing are the stark racial, ethnic, socioeconomic and regional differences: blacks and latinos are more obese than whites in the majority of states, the prevalence of obesity increases with lower incomes and the southern states continue to cluster together with the highest obesity rates. This presents us with a number of hurdles, from health literacy and cultural competency to identifying and overcoming the dual challenges of being obese and an ethnic minority. Highlighting and addressing these issues is imperative as we move forward with implementing the newly-enacted Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Following the Federal government's landmark efforts to initiate effective changes in health care, states are beginning to take center stage as they structure their programs. The Alliance will examine the changes and assess how the policies relate to obesity prevalence, prevention and treatment. Click here to read the Alliance's summary of obesity-related provisions in health reform. The Affordable Care Act also provides for increasing investments in medical homes, which allow for better care coordination and management of obesity and other chronic diseases. Back in March, I discussed the need to address the primary care shortage in order to effectively address weight-related health issues. Since that time, I am pleased to see Secretary Sebelius' recent announcement to allocate more funds to increase the number of primary care providers, thus increasing access to prevention and treatment. These types of efforts to improve our health care delivery system are an essential part of eliminating the disparities in health highlighted in this year's F as in Fat report. Our nation is more focused on the issue of obesity now than ever before. But as anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows, the ongoing work to sustain this interest might just be the hardest challenge of all. As more individuals and decision makers become engaged in the fight against obesity, the STOP Obesity Alliance will work to maintain the momentum, so that the improvements made to help individuals achieve better access to care and live healthier lifestyles are sustained over time.
| Sincerely,
Christine C. Ferguson, J.D.
Director, STOP Obesity Alliance
Research Professor
School of Public Health and Health Services
Department of Health Policy
The George Washington University |  |
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Alliance & Member News
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RSVP for the Task Force on Women Discussion on July 21
The STOP Obesity Alliance Task Force on Women will hold a discussion on Wednesday, July 21to explore topics including the role of women as 'chief health officer' for their families and the social, cultural and systemic barriers to addressing obesity and weight-related chronic disease in women. Click here for more information and to RSVP. Space is limited.
The Alliance Celebrates National Employee Wellness MonthAs a part of June's National Employee Wellness Month (NEWM), the STOP Obesity Alliance, Virgin HealthMiles and the Institute for Health and Productivity Management (IHPM) developed a collection of wellness resources and tools designed to help employers and employees create healthier workplaces. Resources include easy-to-implement workplace wellness program ideas, case studies of corporate and employee wellness innovators, white papers about wellness-related issues and more. Additionally, NEWM sponsors awarded the 2010 Eye on Wellness Awards to Arizona-based Chandler Regional and Mercy Gilbert Medical Centers, and Dr. Mark McIntosh, assistant professor at the University of Florida College of Medicine and director of the Employee Wellness Program for the University of Florida and Shands Jacksonville Medical Center. Click here to learn more about National Employee Wellness Month and the awards.
Christine Ferguson Participates in Webinar on Workplace WellnessAlliance Director Christine Ferguson participated in a webinar sponsored by Virgin HealthMiles and Workplace Management Magazine entitled " Motivate, Measure and Manage: Strategies for a Successful Employee Health Program" on June 29. She was among a panel of experts that discussed proven strategies to increase engagement and participation in employee wellness programs. Topics included how to keep employees engaged; the benefits of an incentives-based approach; the link between employee participation and health care costs; how to make an employee health program personal, measurable and easy to use; and, how to integrate wellness initiatives into other health programs.
DMAA Hosts Webinars on Obesity and WellnessDMAA: The Care Continuum Alliance (DMAA) hosted a webinar on June 14, " Comprehensive Obesity Care," to help employers and health plan decision makers understand weight management treatment options for members with moderate to severe obesity. DMAA also hosted " Reading the Market: Two Surveys on the Outlook for Workplace Health and Wellness" on June 25 to present a side-by-side analysis of recent surveys on wellness and population health management market trends. CRI Develops Program Aimed at Improving Health of Restaurant Employees The Canyon Ranch Institute (CRI) and the MGA Global Foundation announced their partnership to establish a CRI Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP) that will be available to employees at a McDonald's restaurant in Arizona. The CRI LEP focuses on improving participants' health literacy and increasing prevention by using an integrated approach to health and wellness that incorporates physical activity, nutrition, behavior change and stress management. Click here for more information on the program. NBGH Honors Employers with "Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" AwardsThe National Business Group on Health (NBGH) recognized U.S. employers for their continuing commitment to promoting healthy work environments and encouraging employees to choose healthier lifestyles. NBGH presented a total of 66 large employers with "2010 Best Employers for Healthy Lifestyles" awards at NBGH's Institute on Innovation in Workforce Well-being Leadership Summit held in Washington, D.C. on June 14. Click here for a full list of award recipients. NCLR to Host 2010 Annual Conference and National Latino Family ExpoThe National Council of La Raza (NCLR) will host the 2010 NCLR Annual Conference and the National Latino Family Expo in San Antonio, Texas, July 10 - 13. Workshops will discuss non-profit management, community empowerment, community and family wealth-building, education, health, policy, workforce development and women's issues. Click here to view a brief description of each workshop, here to view the full schedule of conference events and here to register.
AADE Opens Registration for 37th Annual MeetingThe American Association of Diabetes Educators (AADE) will host its 37th Annual Meeting & Exhibition in San Antonio, Texas, Aug. 4-7. The event will offer support, guidance, the latest tools and solutions, professional education and networking opportunities to diabetes educators and health professionals from all areas of the health care delivery system. Click here for more information about the meeting and here to register. NBNA to Convene 38th Annual Institute and ConferenceThe National Black Nurses Association (NBNA) will hold its 38th Annual Institute and Conference, "Working to Transform Nursing Practice through Health Care Reform," in San Diego, Calif., Aug. 3 - 8. Click here for a schedule of events and information on how to register for the conference. AMGA Issues a Call for Presentations at 2011 Annual ConferenceThe American Medical Group Association (AMGA) is seeking innovative and original presentations from health care leaders for its 2011 Annual Conference, "Learning from the Best!" The conference will take place April 13-16, 2011 in National Harbor, Md. The deadline for submitting proposals is July 14, 2010. Click here to download the call for presentations. |
News Round-Up
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Can Girls Be Overweight and Not Be Overwrought?
June 27, 2010
The New York Times
Ginia Bellafante Bellafante discusses the social implications of the new ABC Family series, "Huge," which chronicles the struggles of fictional teenagers at a weight-loss camp.
What Should Americans Be Eating Today?
June 21, 2010
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Carolyn O'Neil The 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee released a report in June concluding that on average, Americans of all ages consume too few vegetables, fruits, high-fiber whole grains, low-fat milk and milk products, and seafood, and they eat too much added sugars, solid fats, refined grains, and sodium. The Dietary Guidelines are jointly updated and issued every five years by the Departments of Agriculture and Health and Human Services.
More Americans Exercise, But They Are Still ObeseJune 16, 2010
Reuters
Cynthia Osterman According to the latest government data released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more Americans are exercising but the rates of obesity and smoking have not changed. The recent survey finds that obesity rates were frozen last year at around 28 percent of adults compared to 2008, but 34.7 percent of adults claimed in 2009 they engaged in regular leisure physical activity, up from 31.9 percent in 2008.
The Promise of Prevention
June 15, 2010
Politico
John Seffrin, Larry Hausner and Nancy Brown John Seffrin, CEO of the American Cancer Society, Larry Hausner, CEO of the American Diabetes Association and Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, discuss the potential for prevention programs included in the new health reform law to transform our nation's health care system.
Should People Be Paid to Stay Healthy?
June 14, 2010
The New York Times In the "Room for Debate" blog on The New York Times website, a group of health experts question the ethics of providing monetary incentives to keep Americans healthy and the potential impact on the doctor-patient relationship. Experts include James C. Capretta, a fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center; Karen Davenport, the director of health policy at the Center for American Progress; and, Arthur Caplan, a professor of bioethics at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine.
Shifting Focus: From Body Image to Health Consciousness
June 4, 2010
The Huffington Post
Christine Ferguson STOP Obesity Alliance Director Christine Ferguson discusses a recent controversial Lane Bryant advertisement that faced resistance from media outlets because of the size of the models. In response to the controversy, Ferguson writes that it is clear the media serves as a constant reinforcement of the stigma that plagues obese people in this country, especially women. She then discusses steps the Alliance is taking to steer the conversation toward to health status with the development of the Alliance's Task Force on Women.
If It Worked to Curb Smoking, Shouldn't It Work to Curb Obesity?
June 2, 2010
The Wall Street Journal
Katherine Hobson Hobson comments on a recent article in the Associated Press that suggests even though cash rewards have been shown to decrease rates of smoking, the issue of financial incentives to lose weight is more complicated - mainly because food is a necessity. Hobson explores how other strategies that have been used to curb smoking like taxes, marketing restrictions and stigma might apply to the obesity problem.
Dieting for Dollars? More US Employees Trying It
June 1, 2010
Associated Press
Mike Stobbe While at least one-third of U.S. companies offer financial incentives, or are planning to introduce them to get their employees to lose weight, only about 15 to 20 U.S. studies have tried to evaluate the effect of these incentives on weight loss. An observational study by Cornell University researchers looked at seven employer programs and found that the average weight loss in most was little more than a pound, but that one company in the study that offered a refundable bond option achieved average weight loss of nearly four pounds.
Risks: Obesity Is Found to Take Toll After Age 40
May 31, 2010
The New York Times
Roni Caryn Rabin According to a study in the International Journal of Obesity, obesity may not affect one's health until after the age of 40. The study compared medications taken by normal weight, overweight and obese Americans ages 25 to 70 and found that obese people of all ages took slightly more medications than those of normal weight, but the differences were mainly among adults 40 and older. Click here to view the study. |
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The Strategies to Overcome and Prevent (STOP) Obesity Alliance receives funding from founding sponsor, sanofi-aventis U.S. LLC and supporting sponsors, Allergan, Inc. and Amylin Pharmaceuticals, Inc. |
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