National Obesity Plan Announced

WASHINGTON (Reuters Health) - Surgeon General David Satcher announced Monday preliminary efforts to form a national strategy to deal with the epidemic problem of obesity in the United States.

Satcher unveiled a year-long plan to integrate schools, work places and healthcare clinics into federal efforts to lower rates of overweight and obesity. More than 60% of American adults over 20 years of age were overweight or clinically obese in 1999, according to the National Center for Health Statistics. Rates have more than doubled since 1980, he said.

``It is also increasing in both genders and among all population groups of adults,'' Satcher said in a statement released by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

While Americans are taking in fewer calories per day over recent years, many experts attribute the rise in obesity to an overall high-calorie, high-fat diet coupled with decreasing rates of physical activity. Obesity is thought to cost the American economy over $100 billion per year in healthcare and related costs, according to HHS.

The agency has already convened meetings of public health experts and researchers to begin the process of coming up with a national action plan, according to the release. Other events are scheduled for 2001, including more public meetings between federal agencies to come up with a single government strategy, the statement said.

The plan is not expected to see any changes when President Clinton leaves office in less than 2 weeks, said Damon Thomson, a spokesman for the US Public Health Service. Satcher's term as Surgeon General lasts until February 2002, and Ari Fleisher, spokesman for President-elect George W. Bush said on Friday that Satcher was welcome and expected to serve out his term in the new administration.

Obesity increases the risk of several illnesses, including diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and some cancers.

Reference Source 89