When it comes to addressing obesity, acting at the community level is one of the most promising ways to accelerate health improvement. It can also be one of the most challenging.

On the one hand, there are several avenues at the community level to reach individuals directly - such as worksites, schools, churches and health care centers. On the other, getting all these different community stakeholders on the same page - especially when it comes to prioritizing obesity - is not easily done. Bridges between sectors that don't often communicate have to be created, and consensus on achieving health improvement goals has to be brokered.

This is why I am so excited about a new, local health initiative unfolding in Philadelphia. STOP Obesity Alliance is one of 11 founding members of a coalition involving leaders from a broad range of organizations that have come together to address obesity. The Philadelphia Health Initiative (PHI) is a diverse group of stakeholders working to create integrated and measurable community, workplace and healthcare efforts to prevent and treat obesity and diabetes. Designed to amplify on and accelerate valuable work already underway in Philadelphia, ultimately we hope to achieve not only better health locally, but to be a model for how other communities can mobilize and coordinate their unique assets to improve health.

This month, I participated in PHI's first public discussion which included several experts: Jefferson School of Population Health Dean David Nash, MD, MBA; Barbara Connors, DO, MPH, Chief Medical Officer, Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Greater Philadelphia Business Coalition on Health Executive Director Neil Goldfarb and Giridhar Mallya, MD, MSHP, the Director of Policy and Planning for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health.

Wearing my two hats - one as a clinician who practices obesity medicine and the other as STOP's director who looks at the issues from a policy and public health perspective, I was greatly encouraged by the discussion that took a full circle view of addressing obesity locally. One of the approaches discussed was the need to take community level action that could help families. I was proud to unveil the newly-developed meeting discussion toolkit for community leaders based on the Weigh In guide developed by STOP Obesity Alliance and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. The toolkit provides everything a community leader might need to host a small group discussion with parents to help them talk to their kids about weight and health. And, just for Philadelphia families, the kit includes a local resource list that identifies places to purchase healthy foods (including dining-out options) and activities for families to enjoy together in the city.

Concerted efforts like the PHI demonstrate not only the dialogue change taking place, but also the action under way. I look forward to seeing the change that the PHI will help bring about in Philadelphia. If you are interested in learning more about the PHI or the Weigh In discussion toolkit, I encourage you to email me.

STOP Welcomes Three New Associate Members

The Alliance is happy to welcome three new Associate Members to the coalition. Dr. William Dietz, MD, PhD is the former Director of the Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity in the Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion at the CDC. The International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association is a not-for-profit trade association representing health and fitness facilities, gyms, spas, sports clubs and suppliers worldwide. And the Society of Behavioral Medicine is a multidisciplinary organization of clinicians, educators and scientists dedicated to promoting the study of the interactions of behavior with biology and the environment, and the application of that knowledge to improve the health and well being of individuals, families, communities and populations. Interested in becoming involved in STOP? Email obesity@gwu.edu. 

ABOM Works With NBME To Assist In Certification Exam

American Board of Obesity Medicine (ABOM) has contracted with The National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) to assist in the Certification Examination for Obesity Medicine Physicians. NBME coordinates test administrations for approximately 68,000 examinees on an annual basis for assessments related to licensure and certification. ABOM Chair, Dr. Robert Kushner, says the NBME will help ABOM to meet their goal of providing the highest quality examination in order to assess the competency of physicians who wish to become Diplomates.  The Certification Examination for Obesity Medicine Physicians will be administered December 7 - December 14, 2013. For more information, click here.

AWOHNN Hosts Annual Convention  

Association of Women's Health, Obstetric and Neonatal Nurses (AWOHNN) will host its Annual Convention June 15-19 in Nashville, Tenn. The convention schedule offers participants an opportunity to attend more than 70 educational sessions, renowned keynote presentations and workshops that will cover women's health topics like maternal obesity, diabetes in pregnancy and prevention myths. Click here for more information about the event.

ADA to Hold Annual Scientific Sessions

American Diabetes Association (ADA) will hold its 73rd Scientific Sessions June 21-25 in Chicago, Ill. Topics at the session will include new diabetes research and innovations as well as topics like the delivery of diabetes care and services, preventive measures for diabetes and other related chronic diseases. Click here to register.

TOS Launches "Treat Obesity Seriously" Campaign  

The Obesity Society (TOS) launched the Treat Obesity Seriously campaign, an effort to encourage the treatment of obesity as a serious health condition. The campaign's goal is to improve access for obesity treatment so those affected can get needed medical care and treatment coverage. For information about the campaign, click here. 

2013 Cardiometabolic Health Congress

The 2013 Cardiometabolic Health Congress (CMHC) will take place October 2-5 in Boston, Mass. The conference will provide the current strategies for the prevention, diagnosis and management of Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity and related comorbidities. Click here to register for the event.

Obesity Treatment for the Rest of Us

May 28, 2013

Roll Call

By Joe Nadglowski

An article written by Obesity Action Coalition's Joe Nadglowski discusses two major political figures, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and Representative Tom Reed, who recently underwent bariatric surgery. Nadglowski states that "it's time now for the individual, small business and health exchange insurance markets to catch up so that the rest of us can have the same ability to choose as Christie and Reed did, if and when we are ready to seek medical options to address obesity." 

Overweight People Are More Apt To Ditch Doctors

May 27, 2013

NPR

By Patti Neighmond

Overweight and obese patients are significantly more likely than their normal-weight counterparts to repeatedly switch primary care doctors, a practice that disrupts continuity of care and leads to more emergency room visits, a study published in Obesity suggests. The practice of "doctor shopping" among overweight patients may be a result of negative experiences with the health care system, whether that be off-putting comments by office staff, unsolicited weight-loss advice by providers or improperly sized medical equipment and office furniture.

Dodgeball on the Hill: Saving Physical Play 

May 24, 2013

Roll Call

By Helen Durkin

Helen Durkin, the executive vice president of public policy at the International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association, discusses how Congress can help lower the rising rates of obesity in schools and communities by passing legislation and maintaining programs that increase physical activity in children. In particular, Durkin discusses the Promoting Health as Youth Skills In Classrooms And Life (PHYSICAL) Act, which elevates PE to a "core subject" under federal law.

For U.S. Workers, Lack of Exercise Most Linked to Obesity 

May 8, 2013

Gallup Wellbeing

By Alyssa Brown and Kyley McGeeney

According to data from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, exercising fewer than three days a week is more closely linked to being obese than any of 26 other behavioral and emotional factors, including healthy eating and having health insurance. Gallup analysts surveyed nearly 139,000 American workers and also found that not eating healthfully, not having enough money to buy food, not having a safe place to exercise, having a history of depression and not visiting a dentist annually are all linked to U.S. workers being obese.

Most People Aren't Meeting Exercise Guidelines 

May 2, 2013

USA TODAY

By Nanci Hellmich

According to findings published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal of the CDC, nearly 79 percent of adults do not meet the federal physical activity guidelines that advise getting at least two and a half hours a week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity such as brisk walking, or one hour and 15 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic activity such as jogging.