Among the report’s key findings:
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went up: 37
- Number of states in which adult obesity rates went down: 0
- Number of states in which at least 1 in 4 adults is obese: 28
- Number of states in which there was no specific coverage for nutrition assessment and counseling for obese or overweight children in their Medicaid programs: 10
- Number of states which explicitly do not cover nutritional assessment and consultation for obese adults under Medicaid: 20
- Number of states in which laws require school meals to exceed USDA nutrition standards: 18
The full report also offers solutions to fight the obesity epidemic, including ways for state and national laws to enforce stricter programs.
“America’s future depends on the health of our country. The obesity epidemic is lowering our productivity and dramatically increasing our health-care costs. Our analysis shows that we are not treating the obesity epidemic with the urgency it deserves,” Jeffrey Levi, executive director of Trust for America’s Health, said in a news release. “Even though communities have started taking action, considering the scope of the problem, the country’s response has been severely limited. For significant change to happen, combating obesity must become a national priority.”
The full report can be downloaded from the Robert Wood Foundation Web site. Click here to read F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America.
