September is National Childhood Obesity Month. Childhood obesity continues to be a growing problem. About 1 in 5 children in the United States has obesity, and the prevalence among U.S. children aged 2 to 19 years old had risen to 18.5% in 2015-2016.
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With many schools returning to in-person instruction in August and September, the health of children has become a new contentious focus of the COVID-19 pandemic. Regulations around returning to in-person instruction vary across the country, but disparities in resources between school districts threaten to disadvantage children in low-income areas.
This month's newsletter is written by guest author Fatima Cody Stanford. Dr. Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, MPA, FAAP, FACP, FAHA, FTOS is an obesity medicine physician and scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School. This article was originally published by Newsweek under the title "America’s COVID-19 Response Must Tackle Obesity." It has been reproduced here with minor edits with the permission of the author. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own.
May is Mental Health Awareness Month and this year it’s more important than ever. Disease outbreaks can put individuals and communities under a great deal of stress; the COVID-19 pandemic is a good example.
Racism, oppression and white supremacy have no place in our vision for the future of our country and we stand with those fighting against it. State-sanctioned violence against black and brown people has been a fact in this country since its founding. It must end now and those who perpetuate it must be held to account.
Racism is a public health issue. Trauma is a public health issue. We cannot ensure the health and wellbeing of all until equity – across all sectors, including health, criminal justice, law enforcement, education – is achieved.
Although the obesity rate in American adolescents is over 20% in 12- to 19-year-olds, availability and accessibility of effective treatments remain low. Recent attention has focused on the indications for and use of drug therapy in adolescents.
The pandemic of COVID-19 has threatened the health and infrastructure of nations all over the world.
In December, researchers announced that almost half of all Americans could have obesity by 2030. As we start this new decade, it is imperative that we change the narrative surrounding obesity. We need to raise awareness, lower stigma, and make it easier for those with obesity to receive the care they deserve.
One year ago, the Lancet Commission on Obesity published its seminal report, The Global Syndemic of Obesity, Undernutrition and Climate Change. Today, the report remains impactful and more relevant than ever.
Despite the high prevalence of obesity among Americans, few health professionals receive adequate training in how to deliver effective care for people with obesity.
ObesityWeek, the largest obesity conference in the world, took place this month. What were the takeaways? Most prominently, it is time for us to tackle childhood obesity, specifically severe childhood obesity.
With the holiday season quickly approaching, it is appropriate for patients, practitioners and other stakeholders to avoid holiday weight gain. This time of year, stretching from Thanksgiving to New Year’s, and sometimes expanded to include Halloween, includes indulgence in food and drink beyond recommendations for a balanced diet. Weight gain during the holidays is a common problem, although most American adults typically gain only around one pound.
Today, more than 93 million U.S. adults are living with obesity. Many do not consider obesity as a disease or that there are health professionals who can help them with weight-loss and maintenance. Having access to obesity care can lead to a more successful weight management journey, but many Americans lack insurance coverage to help them pay for these healthcare options. We believe that everyone should have access to obesity care that is not limited by a person’s weight or economic status.
SPECIAL EDITION: Leading expert and STOP Member Allison Sylvetsky, PhD, discusses the science of non-nutritive sweeteners and their role in obesity management.