When it was published in 2012, Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention stated that one-third of adults and 17 percent of children were obese. Recent national data has shown that these rates have stabilized, however they are still alarmingly high compared with a generation ago.
Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention presents five key recommendations that, independently, can accelerate progress, but urges a systems approach of many strategies working in concert to maximize progress in accelerating obesity prevention. The recommendations in this publication include major reforms in access to and opportunities for physical activity; widespread reductions in the availability of unhealthy foods and beverages and increases in access to healthier options at affordable, competitive prices; an overhaul of the messages that surround Americans through marketing and education with respect to physical activity and food consumption; expansion of the obesity prevention support structure provided by health care providers, insurers, and employers; and schools as a major national focal point for obesity prevention.
Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation
One-third of adults are now obese, and children’s obesity rates have climbed from 5 to 17 percent in the past 30 years. The causes of the nation’s obesity epidemic are multi-factorial, having much more to do with the absence of sidewalks and the limited availability of healthy and affordable …
Explore the Infographic
The corresponding infographic displays causes and solutions for obesity prevention. Download it here. Purchase a pack of 10 here.
Documentary Series: The Weight of the Nation
The Weight of the Nation is a presentation of HBO and the Institute of Medicine. This four-part documentary series features case studies: interviews with our nation’s leading experts, and individuals and their families struggling with obesity.