When it comes to advancing policy, even the best ideas have a hard time gaining traction without the support of many people working together to create change.  Earlier this month, the Alliance partnered with many of its coalition members to galvanize greater support for policies that responsibly address weight-related health issues.  We worked with the 20+ members of the Alliance's Task Force on Women to create a Call to Action, urging interested groups and individuals to encourage their policymakers to take conversations about weight and health to a new level of understanding - evolving legislator dialogue to tackle weight as a matter of health, not appearance.

The idea to rally public support certainly isn't new, but it remains one of the key obstacles when it comes to fighting obesity and weight-related disease.  Listening to the experts the Alliance gathered for our national "Pounds and Policy" webinar this month - from Yale's Rudd Center for Food Policy and Obesity, National Eating Disorders Association, Women in Government and American Diabetes Association - I heard one thing loud and clear.  We have to create greater understanding among policymakers at all levels that weight is, in fact, a matter of health.

There is a need for both media and policymakers to more responsibly address weight-related health issues and remove the verbal barriers that are getting in the way of a more informed, responsible conversation.  To help, the Alliance released recommendations for policymakers that aim to help build a healthier nation with effective communication and legislation.  The new guidelines are designed to help policymakers more responsibly address weight-related health issues and emphasize that despite the ongoing inaccurate depictions of weight-related issues in the media and popular culture, policymakers need to understand that both individual choices and societal factors impact weight status.

Policy is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to improving the health of Americans battling weight-related health issues such as obesity, eating disorders and diabetes.That's why it's critical that policymakers are responsibly discussing these topics and taking action accordingly.

You can help! The STOP Obesity Alliance team encourages you to rally around our Call To Action that provides an easy way to you to contact your legislators, urge them to review the new recommendations, and pledge to responsibly tackle weight issues as matters of health. As Marjorie Maginn, President of Women in Government, noted on the webinar - on average, it only takes seven letters from constituents on a particular topic to get the attention of a legislator. So please do take a moment to relay this important message.  Thanks to Alliance Steering Committee member the Obesity Action Coalition for partnering to post the guidelines and Call to Action.

The discussion that's begun about weight, communication and policy is far from over. It will take many people working together to break down the barriers that continue to block progress.  But broadening awareness about understanding the many facets of obesity and weight-related health issues is an important first step. 

• The STOP Obesity Alliance in United Press International, "Words Getting in the Way of Health Debate."
• American Heart Association in USA Today, "Divide Over When to Use In-Depth Cholesterol Tests."
• American College of Sports Medicine in Yahoo! News, "Survey Predicts Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2012."
• America's Health Insurance Plans in The Hill, "IOM Recommends Health Law Benefits Be Pegged to Typical Small-Employer Plan."
• Joslin Diabetes Center in Reuters, "Teaching Patients to Manage Diabetes Works: Studies."
• National Business Group on Health in Los Angeles Times, "Insurers, Employers Offer Incentives to Promote Healthful Habits."
• Rebecca Puhl, PhD, in The Washington Post, "Christie Sparks Debate About Obesity."
• Trust for America's Health in Kaiser Health News, "Many Health Programs Face Sharp Automatic Cuts if Super Committee Deadlocks."

OAC's "Bias Busters"

The Obesity Action Coalition (OAC) launched "Bias Busters," a new initiative to combat weight bias and stigma. The public is encouraged to report examples of bias and stigma to the OAC, who will alert members of these instances in its monthly newsletter. Click here for more information.

ADA's "Stop Diabetes" Initiative 

The American Diabetes Association's (ADA) "Stop Diabetes" initiative will raise awareness of the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of prevention beginning November 1, the first day of American Diabetes Month, by encouraging the public to rally around the goal of ending diabetes. Click here for more information. 

AHIP Fall Forum

America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) will hold its Fall Forum November 14-16 in Chicago, Ill. Key discussion topics will include the impact of health reform on the health insurance marketplace, community approaches to health and well-being and compliance issues surrounding wellness programs. Click here for more information.

WIG Second Annual Healthcare Summit

Cutting Obesity Surgery to Save Money

October 27, 2011
CNN
Elizabeth Cohen

The segment profiles a retired teacher in Georgia who will not be able to afford bariatric surgery under a new state policy that will eliminate its coverage for state employees next year due to rising costs. CNN legal contributor Holly Hughes added to the report by describing her positive experience with bariatric surgery, noting that she believes that the state is "misguided" in its decision to eliminate coverage given its potential to stave off obesity-related health complications. 

Hormones Make It Hard to Keep Weight Off, Study Says

October 27, 2011
ABC.com
Carrie Gann

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine highlights why many people may have a hard time sustaining weight loss. Data showed that people not only produce increased amounts of hunger-inducing hormones after initial weight loss, but continue to produce these hormones after a year of sustained weight loss, giving them a biological urge to keep eating. 

Flu Shots Less Effective in People Who Are Obese, Study Finds

October 26, 2011
HealthDay
Denise Mann

The flu shot was found to be less effective for obese and overweight people according to a study published in the International Journal of Obesity. The study also reported that obese and overweight people may be at a higher risk for more severe illness if they catch the flu.

Neighborhood Can Affect Obesity, Diabetes Risk

October 19, 2011
HealthDay
Serena Gordon

A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine reported that women living in low-income neighborhoods are more likely to be obese and have type 2 diabetes. In the study, researchers followed women who moved from low-income neighborhoods to more advantaged ones and found that they were 19 percent less likely to be morbidly obese and 22 percent less likely to have type 2 diabetes over a 10 year period.

Weight Loss Surgery Benefits Entire Family

October 17, 2011
The New York Times
Anahad O'Connor

According to a study published in The Archives of Surgery, family members of a patient who had gastric bypass surgery are more likely to lose weight, eat healthier and exercise more. Researchers involved in the study suggested that doctors may want to consider regarding the procedure as a way to initiate change within the family unit.

Number of Normal-Weight Americans Edges Out the Overweight

October 10, 2011
TIME
Sora Song

 
A survey conducted by the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index revealed that in the third quarter of 2011, the percentage of normal-weight Americans (36.6 percent) was higher than the percentage of overweight Americans (35.8 percent) - but only by less than one percent. The survey also found that an additional 25.8 percent of Americans are obese. 

Healthcare Law Benefits Must Be Limited to Ensure Affordability, Panel Says

October 6, 2011
The Washington Post
N.C. Aizenman

The National Academy of Science's Institute of Medicine released a report advising the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to emphasize affordability over breadth of coverage when developing the essential benefits package established under the Affordable Care Act. The report provides guidance to HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius who will ultimately be responsible for determining what the package will include.