Today, two-thirds of U.S. adults and nearly one in three
children struggle because they are overweight or have obesity. The
effects of the nation’s obesity epidemic are immense: taxpayers,
businesses, communities and individuals spend hundreds of billions of dollars
each year due to obesity, including an estimated $168 billion in medical
costs. Obesity is the reason that the current generation of youth is
predicted to live a shorter life than their parents.
Much can be done to
reverse the epidemic, yet important opportunities to tackle obesity at the
national policy level -- including changes that enable more Americans to eat
healthy and be active, as well as those that provide appropriate medical
treatment for patients -- have gone largely unmet. The Campaign works to
fill this gap. By bringing together leaders from across industry,
academia and public health with policymakers and their advisors, the Campaign
provides the information and guidance that decision-makers need to make policy
changes that will reverse one of the nation’s costliest and most prevalent
diseases.
National Prevention Strategy Hailed as a Win in Fight Against Obesity
Campaign to End Obesity Action Fund, 6.16.11 The National Prevention Council released the National Prevention Strategy: America's Plan for Better Health and Wellness, a plan that was applauded by the Campaign to End Obesity Action Fund as an extensive approach for both the public and private sectors to combat one of Americas most costly diseases.
House Slashes Spending for Food Safety, Nutrition Programs
ABC News, 6.17.11 House Republicans narrowly passed a bill that makes significant cuts across the Department of Agriculture and related agencies that is being chided by Democrats for making steep cuts to food safety and child nutrition programs.
Showdown looms in House over public school lunches
The Hill, 6.15.11 Two congresswomen are gathering support for a clash over an agricultural spending bill that could affect what millions of public school children eat every day for breakfast and lunch.
CDC: High school students dont exercise enough
CNN, 6.16.11 Roughly one-third of high school students in the U.S. drink two or more sodas, sports drinks, or other sugary beverages per day, but only 15% get the one hour of daily aerobic exercise that health officials recommend, according to the results of a nationwide survey released today by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Carole Carson: Can We End Obesity Within A Decade?
Huffington Post, 6.12.11 Let's aim to get every American fit in one decade. Let's start taking steps daily for ourselves and for each other. Like putting a man on the moon, creating a national challenge of this order would represent a massive undertaking -- both literally and figuratively. Yet however difficult to achieve, the challenge would reap incalculably wonderful benefits, given that obesity is linked to more than 60 chronic diseases, according to the Campaign to End Obesity.
First lady targets healthy habits for toddler set
Associated Press, 6.8.11 Mrs. Obama announced that 1,600 child care centers nationwide already have committed to standards that promote healthy eating, exercise and limited time in front of TV, computer and other screens. And she released a checklist that parents and child care centers can use to make sure they're hitting the right notes.
More news
Campaign Lauds IOM Recommendations for Early Childhood Obesity Prevention The Campaign to End Obesity today applauded policy recommendations in a new Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Policies.
Campaign Honors
Congressional Champions for Work Combating Obesity
The Campaign to End Obesity
recognized eight outstanding Members of Congress whose work has been
instrumental in moving forward provisions to end the obesity epidemic. In its
fourth annual “Breakfast with Champions,” leaders from across industry,
academia and public health convened to acknowledge these key players in
health care, nutrition and transportation policy, among other areas. The event
also served to encourage these visionaries’ colleagues to take up needed
reforms that will reverse one of America’s costliest medical challenges.
What the Different Budget Proposals Mean for Obesity Prevention and Treatment As the White House and Congress continue to refine budget proposals for the remainder of FY 2011 and beyond, several proposals have been introduced that would threaten or reduce funding for critical obesity prevention and treatment programs. These include a six-month spending bill for 2011 (H.R. 1473) that is expected to pass the House and Senate by April 15; House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s Budget Proposal for FY 2012 (covering the next ten years); and President Obama’s Proposed budget for FY 2012. Below are summaries of how each of the three plans could potentially impact anti-obesity programs.
‘Chicago Fit Ball’ to Support America’s Journey to a Healthy Weight & Honor Chef Art Smith On Wednesday March 23, the first-ever “Fit Ball” will be held in Chicago by the Campaign to End Obesity to support efforts to reverse one of America’s costliest diseases. Currently, Illinois ranks fourth in the percentage of obese and overweight children in the U.S., and among adults, the state saw its obesity rate reach 26.6 percent in 2009. Concerned business and civic leaders will come together – led by support from the Chicago Trading Company – to raise resources that can support the Campaign’s work to educate policymakers about what they can do to address obesity in Chicago and around the nation.
Arkansas Surgeon General, Dr. Joe Thompson, Joins Campaign to End Obesity Board of Directors
The Campaign to End Obesity announced the addition of Dr. Joe Thompson to its Board of Directors. Thompson brings significant expertise from both clinical and policy perspectives as Surgeon General for the State of Arkansas, Director of the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI) and Director of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Center to Prevent Childhood Obesity (RWJF Center).
Campaign to End Obesity Honors Five Members of Congress in “Breakfast with Champions” The Campaign to End Obesity recognized five outstanding Members of Congress whose work has been instrumental in moving forward provisions to end the obesity epidemic. In its third annual “Breakfast with Champions,” leaders from academia, business and the health care field convened to acknowledge these key players in health care policy, education policy and food and nutrition policy, among other areas. The event also served to encourage these visionaries’ colleagues to take up needed reforms that will reverse one of America’s costliest medical challenges.
The Campaign to End Obesity – representing concerned leaders
from industry, academia, public health and associations – encourages
federal
policies to reverse the obesity epidemic and improve Americans’ health.