Action plans against increased obesity in US
doubled in America since 1980, while costs attributed to overweight
and obesity surpassed $117 billion annually
According to recent US reports, the incidence of obesity has doubled in America since 1980, while costs attributed to overweight and obesity surpassed $117 billion annually. At the same time, 40 percent of U.S. adults claim no leisure-time physical activity at all while less than one-third meet the recommended activity time of 30 minutes daily.
With more than 300,000 U.S. deaths a year associated with obesity and overweight, there is a need to revamp the dietary guidelines for Americans, experts say.
Human and Health Services (HHS) Secretary Tommy Thompson stood and Surgeon General David Satcher announced a call to action against the obesity epidemic.
The strategy of Satcher's plan is to increase physical education programs in schools and encourage a more active lifestyle for adults and children at home. The plan - entitled CARE (communication, action, research and evaluation) - also calls for enforcement of existing guidelines in schools to decrease soda and vending machines that contain foods of minimal nutritional value. Additionally, Satcher wants to ensure that more food options that are low in fat and calories, as well as fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and low-fat dairy products, are available on school campuses and at school events.
Dun Gifford, president of Oldways Preservation and Trust - a self-described 'food think-tank' organization agrees, for the most part. "The solution," says Mr. Gifford, "lies in traditional eating patterns, which reflect a balance among a variety of true foods, a focus on good fats instead of bad fats, and education about calorie balance, including physical activity."
The Oldways approach involves a multi-cultural collaboration of food researchers who study eating patterns from regions across the globe. Their plan, called EATWISE, is expected to be released in April of 2002.
