While kids across the country finish their summer reading lists in preparation for the new school year, I too have had my own summer reading. There have been several interesting studies published this month on current obesity rates that reveal some much needed good news, but also areas for improvement. This year's "F as in Fat" report, published annually by Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, shows that after more than 30 years of increases, obesity in adults remained level in every state except for Arkansas over the past year. Although it's too early to tell exactly what factors are contributing to this decrease in obesity, it certainly suggests that we are moving in the right direction and should serve to energize us as we continue to do more research to learn what works.

Following this positive trend in adults, we also learned from the CDC this month that 18 states and one U.S. territory have experienced a decline in obesity rates among preschool children (ages 2-4) from low-income families. And, obesity rates among this group did not change in 21 states and territories from 2008-2011.

These trends mark great progress toward addressing obesity, but as always, there is more we can improve. As I mentioned at a recent Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease discussion on obesity as a disease, the progression of the population's obesity curve may be shifting, but the most extreme cases are not experiencing this shift and are instead continuing forward. This trend is highlighted in "F as in Fat." The report notes that the rates of extreme obesity have grown dramatically. In fact, the number of adult Americans with a BMI of 40 or higher has grown in the past 30 years from 1.4 percent to 6.3 percent, a 350 percent increase. It's crucial that we devote resources now to research and efforts to address and reverse this extreme end of the curve.

We already know that there are helpful ways we can redefine the conversation about weight. For example, STOP Obesity Alliance recommends using a 5 to 10 percent sustained reduction of current weight as the appropriate measure of weight loss success. Many individuals, and even some physicians, continue to think that reaching a normal BMI is the only measure of success which discourages many and discounts the science that shows otherwise. A 5 to 10 percent reduction in current weight is more realistic and achievable, and research shows that it leads to major improvements in key health areas.

STOP also has advocated for the need to address and reduce stigma as a barrier to improving health outcomes. Stigmatizing individuals with obesity remains pervasive, despite no evidence that suggests it is a motivator - in fact, it's quite the opposite. Studies have shown that people with overweight or obesity are more likely to frequently switch doctors and that primary care settings can be uncomfortable for patients with overweight and obesity. Another study published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine found that a higher patient BMI was associated with lower physician respect. Improved communication and understanding about obesity, instead of ignoring stigma, is necessary to make the health care system more welcoming for all and to allow people with overweight and obesity to feel comfortable seeking necessary care.

There's more work to be done to address childhood obesity as well. Even though we are seeing some decline in the rate of obesity in preschoolers, according to the CDC study, one in eight preschoolers in the U.S. fits into the category of childhood obesity, and this could lead to continued high rates of obesity in adults in the future. At STOP, we have created the Weigh In guide and materials to help empower parents to discuss weight and health with their children. I encourage you to review the materials available here.

While we may not know the specifics to the stabilizing rates, we do know that the ongoing collaboration among stakeholders will continue to be necessary to address this issue. I encourage you to check out the CDC's suggestions on how federal, state and local officials as well as doctors, nurses, parents and caregivers can address this problem. And also review Trust for America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's key recommendations from "F as in Fat" on strategies to overcome obesity that can be taken to scale, including access to more opportunities to be physically active on a regular basis and investing more in prevention to save money on treatment.

As we say goodbye to summer and we head into a new school year, I hope you will take some time to do your "studying" and learn more about what's being recommended to effectively address obesity.

Best,

• STOP Obesity Alliance on ConscienHealth.org, "How-To: Conversations About Childhood Obesity."
• Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics on Examiner.com, "Controversial New Study Says Black Women Should Focus on Weight Maintenance."
• American Institute for Cancer Research on Cleveland.com, "Groups Provide Online Resources to Promote Healthy Living, Prevent Obesity in Children."
• Endocrine Society in HealthDay, "Study May Explain Why Some Obese People Don't Get Diabetes."
• Obesity Action Coalition on MedCityNews.com, "Don't Celebrate With a Cheeseburger: Obesity Rate in Florida Drops 1.4%."