The Time is NOW to Support Healthier Schools (12/13/2007)

Congressional Briefing on Physical Activity and Academic Achievement (11/28/2007)

CEO Urges Caution in Interpreting Results of New Study (11/7/2007)

Senator Harkin Introduces FIT Kids Act (10/18/2007)

2007 Farm Bill - Act Now to Help Fight Obesity (10/5/2007)

More Alerts


AMERICA'S OBESITY EPIDEMIC:

  • According to projections, 73 percent of American adults could be overweight or obese by 2008.
  • The rate of childhood obesity more than doubled from 1980 to 2000.
  • More than 9 million children are overweight or obese.

THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF OBESITY:

  • According to Health Affairs Journal and RAND, 83 cents of every health care dollar in America is spent on a patient that is overweight or obese.
  • According to the Department of Health and Human Services, the total cost of obesity in the U.S. is $117 billion each year.
  • Statistics from the National Business Group on Health indicate that obesity was responsible for 39 million lost work days and 63 million physician visits.

OBESITY AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY:

  • 52 percent of adults do not meet minimum physical activity recommendations.
  • Only 35.8 percent of high school students are physically active 60 minutes or more, 5 days per week; only 33 percent attend physical education classes daily.

OBESITY AND NUTRITION:

  • Only 12 percent of adults and 2 percent of children eat a healthy diet consistent with federal nutrition recommendations.
  • According to the USDA, healthier diets could prevent at least $71 billion per year in medical costs, lost productivity and lost lives.

OBESITY RISK FOR MINORITY POPULATIONS:

  • Nearly 30 percent of Mexican-American men are obese.
  • 81.6 percent of black women and 75.4 percent of Mexican-American women are overweight or obese compared to 58 percent of white women.
  • Type 2 Diabetes affects half of the Pima Indians.

OBESITY'S IMPACT ON AMERICA'S HEALTH:

  • According to the American Cancer Society, obese adults are at increased risk for all cancers especially endometrial, gall bladder, uterine, ovarian, colorectal and prostate.
  • According to the CDC, obesity contributes to two-thirds of all heart disease.
  • Over 75 percent of hypertension cases are directly related to obesity.
  • More than 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight.
  • 66 percent of American adults with doctor-diagnosed arthritis are overweight or obese.

May 8-9, 2007
Ronald Reagan Center
Washington, DC
Read the full report




Fit and Healthy Make the Mind Wealthy
December 4th, 2007
More Information


Congress adjourns for a two-week Easter recess, the House of Representatives and the Senate both pass budget proposals and that latest on the Farm Bill. Click here for more about what's happening in Washington, DC.




Click here to learn about legislation introduced in the 110th Congress to combat obesity.

©2007 Collaborative Campaign to End Obesity