"F" as in Fat: Obesity in America

"Childhood obesity rates throughout the country, including in Los Angeles County, are much too high," said Jonathan E. Fielding, Los Angeles County's director of public health and a First 5 LA commissioner. "Children who are overweight and obese are more likely to suffer from low self-esteem and depression, and are then more likely to grow up and become overweight or obese adults, who suffer from all of the associated health problems."

Jointly produced by Trust of America's Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the report ranks American obesity rates by state. While California's adults ranked 41 out of 51 (including the District of Columbia), our children aged 10 to 17 ranked 28th, indicating that their waistlines are surpassing those of adults. Mississippi was the worst offender with more than 44 percent of its children surveyed as obese or overweight.

This report comes on the heels of a study published by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention examining childhood obesity as a problem that starts before a child is even born. The study states that, "developmental perspective [on the epidemic] is warranted since obesity results from a complex combination of factors throughout a person's life." The study highlights that, even before their second birthdays, many American toddlers can develop the unhealthy eating habits of adults. Click here to see the report.

While the "F" is for Fat statistics seem dismal, the report also outlines policy efforts that are working to combat the epidemic. For California, the report recognized a program that had documented the lack of local access to healthy foods, as well as causes and proposed solutions. As a result, a series of policies to improve the quality of food in publicly sponsored programs was adopted by the L.A. City Council and the L.A. County Board of Supervisors, as well as the state.

The report also includes recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform and calls for a National Strategy to Combat Obesity. The strategy would define roles and responsibilities for federal, state and local governments and promote collaboration among businesses, communities, schools and families and would seek to advance policies that: 

• Provide healthy foods and beverages to students at schools;
• Increase the availability of affordable healthy foods in all communities;
• Increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity at school;
• Improve access to safe and healthy places to live, work, learn and play;
• Limit screen time (TV and video games); and
• Encourage employers to provide workplace wellness programs.

Click here to access a summary of the report. Click here to download the full report.

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