CHILDHOOD OBESITY: A WINNABLE BATTLE! DECEMBER 6, 2012 MAXINE HAYES, MD, MPH STATE HEALTH OFFICER WASHINGTON STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

We Have A Crisis! We Need Everyone’s Attention/Help The Battle is Winnable!

Shocking Statistics: In 1970, less than 5% of American Children were obese. By 2010 that figure more than tripled to 17% 1 in 3 children born in 2000 will develop diabetes at some point in his or her lifetime. Among African-American and Latino children, that number is one-in-two. Being overweight or obese increases a child’s risk of developing asthma by as much as 52%

More Statistics from 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Survey 13 % were obese 6% did not eat vegetables during the seven days prior to the survey 11% drank a can, bottle or glass of soda three or more times per day during the seven days before the survey. 71% were physically active at least 60 minutes per day on less than seven days during the week prior to the survey. 69% did not attend physical education classes daily when they were in school. 32% watched television three or more hours per day on an average school day. 31% used computers three or more hours per day on average school day. Almost half of obese teenage girls become severely obese by age 30. Source: Centers for Disease Control & Prevention

Obesity among children is not something we can continue to hope our children will outgrow! Solutions: We have to change the way we live, the choices we make and focus on individual/community environments Getting it right in the beginning means getting it right for life!

The Public Health approach must be taken to reverse these trends

How did we get here?

The choices we make are shaped by the choices we have! INDIVIDUAL RESPONSIBILITY

Kids and Families need help and support from policies and systems SOCIETY RESPONSIBILITY

We don’t know everything but we know enough to act!

Access to Health CareCounseling Screening (EPSDT) EnvironmentUrban design Food availability & cost ACEs Child care settings GeneticsObesity gene(s) Metabolic disorders Health BehaviorsPhysical Activity Healthy Meals Sleep DETERMINANTS OF OBESITY

Focus on the Environment Preventing and Treating Childhood Obesity HomeHealthy meals Physical activity—limit TV SchoolMandatory physical education Healthy lunches and snacks Urban designProtect open spaces Build pedestrian zones, bike paths, parks Marketing and media Subsidize healthy foods Require nutrition labels on fast food Health careImprove insurance coverage for effective obesity treatment PoliticsRegulate political contributions from the food industry, farm bill subsidies

TAKE HOME CONCLUSIONS Prevention is our greatest hope to stop this crisis! Preventing obesity is a societal challenge, similar to climate change. It requires partnership between government, science, business and civil society. Philanthropy can also help!

“You cannot achieve what you cannot envision” We can do this!

RESOURCES The Weight of the Nation: hbo.com/theweightofthenation Twitter.com/WeightoftheNtn #weightofthenation Facebook.com/theweightofthenation Youtube.com/hbodocs

RESOURCES Social Media Revolution 2011 Youtube video -