Objective: 19-3 Reduce the proportion of children and adolescents who are overweight or obese. According to the Progress Quotient Chart for Focus Area 19: Nutrition and Overweight, there are three categories they measured: 6-11years, 12-19years and 6-19years. In all three of these categories -83% moved away from target of total targeted change achieved. “Between 1988–94 and 1999–2002, the prevalence of overweight and obesity among children and adolescents aged 6 to 19 years (19-3c) increased from 11 percent to 16 percent, moving away from the target of 5 percent. Identical trends were observed among children aged 6 to 11 years (19-3a) and adolescents aged 12 to 19 years (19-3b).”
Progress: So far this objective is moving away from the HealthyPeople Targets.
Disparities: There were known disparities within the areas of race, ethnicity, gender, economic income and disability. Generally the white Caucasian had the best rates from 1999-2002.
Opportunities/Challenges/Emerging Issues: Essentially governmental action and community contribution is key in promoting a healthy lifestyle and reducing the obesity rates in our youth. Some opportunities that arise are teaching dietary guidelines, how to read food labels and identifying patterns that can help educators tailor programs to manage weight and reduce threats of chronic illness. Another key opportunity is to ensure the implementation of policies and programs that emphasize healthy actions in youth. A challenge is that most of these programs are mostly aimed at kids in afterschool programs or at the parents or guardians. The emerging issue is the trend of using medications as well as the increased use of bariatric surgery to take care of our obesity problem. These are perceived as the best treatment available when in reality prevention is the top priority in reducing the rise of obesity in our country.
H.R.3468: Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Disease through Prevention and Wellness Programs for Employees, Communities and Individuals Act of 2009.
Title: To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, the Public Health Service Act, and the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 to promote the use of prevention and wellness programs.
Sponsor: Rep Castle, Michael N. [DE] (Introduced 7/31/2009)
Cosponsors:
Rep Crenshaw, Ander [FL-4] (11/17/2009)
Rep Dent, Charles W. [PA-15] (9/16/2009)
Rep Gerlach, Jim [PA-6] (7/31/2009)
Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] (9/16/2009)
Rep Lance, Leonard [NJ-7] (9/16/2009)
Rep Lee, Christopher J. [NY-26] (9/25/2009)
Rep LoBiondo, Frank A. [NJ-2] (7/31/2009)
Rep Platts, Todd Russel [PA-19] (9/16/2009)
Rep Tiberi, Patrick J. [OH-12] (9/16/2009)
Latest Major Action: 9/8/2009 Referred to House subcommittee. Status:Referred to the Subcommittee on Health
Recommendation: Yes for H.R.3468 Promoting Health and Preventing Chronic Disease through Prevention and Wellness Programs for Employees, Communities, and Individuals Act of 2009
83% away from the target!?! That is shocking. I guess it is just hard to hear that obesity is still on the rise. This is a great choice of a goal. I think it is becoming a bit overkill with medications and surgeries for people who don't need it or have not tried other ways to become more healthy. Hopefully the focus can turn back to prevention.
ReplyDeleteWow, the goal is actually moving away from it's target! This is a bill that definitely needs some work! Even now that there is so much awareness about obesity this proves that it's not just awareness that makes a difference, it's action! Literally!
ReplyDeleteThis is such a huge issue in the United States. Kids are getting too used to sedentary lifestyles that they are gaining rapid weight. What happened to going outside and playing or eating apples? Now most kids would rather eat a bag of chips in front of a computer or television screen. What I think would be most effective is aiming these programs at the parents and guardians. When kids are growing up parents make most of the food decisions. Kids will eat how their parents eat. Hopefully there will be an increase towards this goal because 83% away from the target is devastating.
ReplyDeleteThis issues really seems to be difficult to combat. So many aspects of America society reinforce a sedentary lifestyle in which convenience (as opposed to health and nutrition) are the determining factors of what activities are performed and what foods are eaten any given day. We really need to take action to promote healthier lifestyles for our future generations.
ReplyDeleteI know that it may be shocking that we have moved away from the target goal but after watching that movie "unatural causes" the increase of obesety can be explained to some degree by how our society is set up. Eleveted cortisol= Rise in health problems, and with the middle class being squeezed, we should expect obesity to continue its up hill slope.
ReplyDeleteKatie, great goal choice! It's absolutely staggering and mind blowing just how bad obesity rates have gotten in the past 5 years or so. I totally agree with our fellow blog members in that society plays a huge role in the way we live our lives. Fast food places are on every corner it seems and buying processed foods is cheap and quick. Another major role that I believe goes into the whole obesity aspect is the technology growth and capabilities. Alicia's read 'n' seed talked about how kids aren't getting out into nature and enjoying the outdoors and I firmly believe that technology is a big reason for that. Very good bill choice and I can't wait to see what you find in coming weeks. Nice post.
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