F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America’s Future Jeffrey Levi, PhD Executive Director Congressional Briefing January 26, 2011

Overview  The increasing rates of obesity and persisting disparities represent a significant threat to the nation’s health  While the numbers are discouraging, there is an unprecedented level of public and private engagement in addressing this health challenge  To reverse the trend we must expand current obesity-prevention efforts and integrate obesity prevention into all relevant policies – from health care to housing and transportation

Obesity Persists as a National Threat  Adult obesity rates continue to rise  Child and adolescent rates are stable, but significant  Disparities by race, income, and geography persist

Adult Obesity Continues to Rise  More than two-thirds of states (38) have obesity rates above 25%

Obesity Threatens Youth  12 million children and adolescents are obese

Disparities in Obesity Persist  Racial, ethnic, income, and regional disparities continue to persist Black and Latino rates were higher than Whites in at least 40 states 10 out of the 11 states with highest rates were in the South 35.3% of adults earning less than $15,000/year were obese, compared with 24.5% of adults earning $50,000 or more/year

Removing Barriers to Healthy Choices  Ready access to affordable healthy food  Ready access to safe places to be physically active  Integrating physical activity into school and work settings  Improving food choices in schools and at work  Access to health services that address obesity

Fighting Childhood Obesity a Worthwhile Investment  73% of Americans believe fighting childhood obesity is a worthwhile investment 58% say it is a very important priority  56% support expanded investment in anti- obesity programs, even if it costs billions of $  61% believe childhood obesity is a problem we can solve in a generation Views cross party lines and geographic lines

Several Major Efforts  Let’s Move – creating a social movement  White House Task Force on Childhood Obesity  Communities Putting Prevention to Work (CPPW) Focus on communities creating coalitions to address obesity  Healthy, Hunger Free Kids Act Nutritional standards in schools

New Opportunities  Prevention and Public Health Fund Legislation specifies focus on obesity factors Expansion of CPPW Community Transformation Grants Expansion and realignment of obesity-related CDC grants  Other Affordable Care Act Initiatives CHIPRA childhood obesity demonstration Coverage standards Nutrition labeling

New Opportunities (Cont.)  National Prevention Strategy – thinking across silos (Health in All Policies)  FDA review of front-of-package labeling  Surface Transportation Reauthorization  Elementary and Secondary Education Act  Farm bill

Maintaining the Momentum  It will take a sustained effort to reverse a problem that has built over several generations  We see major new initiatives across levels of government and in the private sector The public supports and believes in these investments Increasing public investment through the Prevention Fund Reassessing and re-evaluating policies and programs as we learn what works

For Further Information  Please visit our health reform website at:  The full text of F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010 is available at:  Feel free to contact Jeff Levi, Executive Director, at if you have any further