Published: Thursday, January 1, 2009
IN OUR VIEW
Resolve to treat obesity like the killer it truly is
Millions of Americans will start trying to lose weight today, a resolution that some will stick to, and many more will not. Habits aren't changed easily, no matter how good our intentions, even when our health is at stake.
But obesity trends are alarming. In fact, they're epidemic. Data from the Snohomish Health District show that the percentage of obese adults here has doubled since 1994. That's roughly in line with what's happening nationally. More than 1 in 4 Snohomish County adults are obese, and their children are following their example.
Obesity is about a lot more than how you look or feel. It markedly increases your risk of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Alzheimer's and a number of cancers. (Obesity is defined by a body mass index of 30 or higher. You can calculate yours by clicking here.)
A new health district policy brief, "Obesity In Our Community," forces certain geographic areas of the county to take an uncomfortable look in the mirror. Marysville, rural swaths of north and east county, and part of Everett have significantly higher obesity rates than the county average. The findings suggest where more resources for physical activity and healthy-living programs should be directed.
Effective prevention measures, even in a challenging economy, must be a high public priority because obesity has a major impact on health-care spending, a primary drag on economic growth. The Healthy Communities program, which is being continued by the cities of Marysville, Lynnwood and Everett despite losing county funding for now, is one such strategy. It deserves full and sustainable financial support.
Another, and one that we'd recommend the Obama administration resolve to pursue in the new year, is a very loud, very aggressive national advertising and education campaign aimed at reversing the current obesity trend. It should be as hard-hitting and explicit as the successful anti-smoking campaigns of recent years, showing obesity for what it is: a killer.
It should also work in concert with other efforts to educate Americans about good nutrition, like how to read labels on the food they buy, what a healthy portion size looks like, and developing personal strategies for getting more exercise.
If current trends continue, half of Americans will be obese in another 15 years. We must resolve to prevent that. If we fail, the only thing growing faster than the American waistline will be the American health-care crisis.
But obesity trends are alarming. In fact, they're epidemic. Data from the Snohomish Health District show that the percentage of obese adults here has doubled since 1994. That's roughly in line with what's happening nationally. More than 1 in 4 Snohomish County adults are obese, and their children are following their example.
Obesity is about a lot more than how you look or feel. It markedly increases your risk of serious health problems, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, stroke, Alzheimer's and a number of cancers. (Obesity is defined by a body mass index of 30 or higher. You can calculate yours by clicking here.)
A new health district policy brief, "Obesity In Our Community," forces certain geographic areas of the county to take an uncomfortable look in the mirror. Marysville, rural swaths of north and east county, and part of Everett have significantly higher obesity rates than the county average. The findings suggest where more resources for physical activity and healthy-living programs should be directed.
Effective prevention measures, even in a challenging economy, must be a high public priority because obesity has a major impact on health-care spending, a primary drag on economic growth. The Healthy Communities program, which is being continued by the cities of Marysville, Lynnwood and Everett despite losing county funding for now, is one such strategy. It deserves full and sustainable financial support.
Another, and one that we'd recommend the Obama administration resolve to pursue in the new year, is a very loud, very aggressive national advertising and education campaign aimed at reversing the current obesity trend. It should be as hard-hitting and explicit as the successful anti-smoking campaigns of recent years, showing obesity for what it is: a killer.
It should also work in concert with other efforts to educate Americans about good nutrition, like how to read labels on the food they buy, what a healthy portion size looks like, and developing personal strategies for getting more exercise.
If current trends continue, half of Americans will be obese in another 15 years. We must resolve to prevent that. If we fail, the only thing growing faster than the American waistline will be the American health-care crisis.
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