This month marked the release of the F as in Fat report from Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.  I wish I could say the numbers were surprising, but they weren't.  What is it about this issue that has made it so intractable? Not long ago, Dr. Richard Carmona, our health and wellness chairperson, noted, "We've reached the tipping point on obesity in the United States.  Obesity now impacts every aspect of our lives, including the future of our health care system."  Few disagree. We are a nation of innovators, but there is something about obesity that has us stalled.

Generally, the first step in confronting an issue is agreeing on the problem.  In this case, the facts are clear.  The annual F as in Fat report has helped establish the magnitude of obesity in America.  Adult obesity rates increased in 16 states in the past year and did not decline in any state, according to the report.  Added to this are the many reports that quantify the financial burden, as much as $147 billion a year in health care costs, according to some estimates.  And last year, our team at George Washington University also calculated the annual personal cost of obesity at $4,879 for women and $2,446 for men.  For women, much of that cost comes from lost wages.

While it's critical to continue research on the prevalence, financial burden and impact on productivity of obesity, I feel confident that there is wide-scale acceptance of the problem and the magnitude of its impact on us individually and as a country.

To many, America and innovation are synonymous.  Our history is replete with examples of applying American ingenuity to tough challenges.  We see it in technology, in education, in energy.  Are we lacking innovation - or even innovative thinking - in solving our health and weight challenges?

It may be that the biggest barrier to developing and adopting innovative solutions is the continued intense debate on why we reached the levels we have today and who is responsible - with a heavy emphasis on personal responsibility.   I think we would be better off turning our attention to answers and approaches, focused on both prevention and treatment, that might finally help us turn the corner.  Because, regardless of how we might answer the "why" and the "who," I think it is long past time to start thinking about "what" we are going to do.

Certainly innovation is something we at the STOP Obesity Alliance have been thinking about since we first began our work.  In fact, one of our foundational recommendations focuses specifically on encouraging innovation and the need to explore multi-factorial interventions to strengthen the system of care for overweight and obesity.

We recommend: encouraging innovation around treatments, intervention and disease management with support from employers, insurers, and other payers; supporting efforts to train health professionals, in order to develop and disseminate best practices; identifying and disseminating successful or promising practices for interventions; and encouraging governmental and non-governmental entities to focus on translating the research on obesity management into recommendations for best practices in the care of obese and overweight individuals. 

And since we know that the work to stop obesity cannot end with personal responsibility, the Alliance also is dedicated to creating greater consensus that overcoming obesity requires environments where people have opportunities to make healthful choices.  On this, I was very pleased to see the major announcement by the First Lady and the large retailers that are pledging to bring stores with healthful food options into neighborhoods that have historically lacked access to fresh groceries.

This is innovative thinking.  And we need more of it.

Sincerely,

Christine C. Ferguson, J.D.
Director, STOP Obesity Alliance
Professor, School of Public Health and Health Services
Department of Health Policy
The George Washington University