Healthy People 2010 Gets Mixed Grades on Addressing Weight,
American Obesity Association Calls for Roadmap

WASHINGTON, Jan. 24, 2000 —The American Obesity Association (AOA) today gave Healthy People 2010 a grade of 'A' for naming weight as a leading health indicator, but a 'D' for not proposing practical ways to reverse the escalating toll obesity is taking on the U.S. While goals for achieving a healthy weight are included in the updated initiative, the AOA says it fails to provide a roadmap for reaching the objectives.

"For the last 10 years the initiative has shown people the way to address a majority of public health problems, with the major exception of obesity," says Morgan Downey, AOA’s executive director.

Some 55 percent of all U.S. adults are overweight or obese. Nearly 15 percent of American children and more than 10 percent of adolescents are overweight, double the percentages since 1968. The health care costs for treating obese adults last year in the U.S. was $238 billion.

Downey says a comprehensive approach to weight maintenance would include four areas:

• Research on obesity and related health conditions, and more studies about the effectiveness of treatments over time.
• Prevention programs in schools, a return to physical education, and classes about nutrition and weight.
• Covering treatment for obesity in health insurance plans.
• Education of the public and the medical community.

The four areas are covered in detail in a model chapter AOA proposed to be included in Healthy People 2010. AOA is sending the chapter to state and local public health departments and other organizations to help curb the alarming rates of obesity in communities, schools and the workplace.

Founded in 1995, the AOA is a non-profit organization whose mission is to promote research, prevention, treatment and education on obesity. AOA supporters include various national public and private organizations that contribute their name to support its issues.