Confront problems of overweight and obesity, surgeon general urges -- February 2002 -- FP Report

February 2002 • Volume 8 • Number 2

Confront problems of overweight and obesity, surgeon general urges

BY SARAH THOMAS

Health problems resulting from overweight and obesity could reverse many health gains achieved in the United States in recent decades, according to a report released Dec. 13 by Surgeon General David Satcher, M.D., Ph.D. The report calls for partnerships among health care providers, schools, faith-based groups and other community organizations to combat weight problems. It also calls for a dialogue to consider classifying obesity as a disease category for reimbursement coding.

"Overweight and obesity may soon cause as much preventable disease and death as cigarette smoking," Satcher, a family physician, said at the press conference marking the release of The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity. About 300,000 U.S. deaths a year are associated with obesity and overweight, he said, compared to more than 400,000 deaths a year associated with smoking. The total direct and indirect costs attributed to overweight and obesity amounted to $117 billion in the year 2000.

"Overweight and obesity are among the most pressing new health challenges we face today," said HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson. "Our modern environment has allowed these conditions to increase at alarming rates and become a growing health problem for our nation. By confronting these conditions, we have tremendous opportunities to prevent the unnecessary disease and disability they portend for our future."

Statistics tell the story:

* Obesity among adults has doubled since 1980, while overweight among adolescents has tripled. In 1999, an estimated 61 percent of adults were overweight or obese, and 13 percent of children and adolescents were overweight.
Less than one-third of Americans meet the federal recommendations to engage in at least 30 minutes of moderate physical activity at least five days a week -- and 40 percent of adults engage in no leisure-time physical activity at all.
Only 3 percent of Americans meet at least four of the five federal Food Guide Pyramid recommendations for the intake of grains, fruits, vegetables, dairy products and meats.

The surgeon general's report was dedicated in memory of FP Paul Ambrose, M.D., M.P.H., who was killed in the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. Ambrose, senior editor of the report, served in the HHS Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. "His spirit and his professionalism motivated this team. He truly made a difference," Thompson said.

The Surgeon General's Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity is at http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/. For more on dealing with obesity in your practice, go to http://www.aafp.org/fpr/ and access the November and December 2000 issues of FP Report for a two-part special section on this topic.

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