Obesity Discussion Forums

[Obesity Discussion]

VA fights obesity, diabetes

By Gayle S. Putrich
Times staff writer


The Department of Veterans’ Affairs is joining the fight against diabetes and obesity with a new campaign and a new Web site designed to help people set up and stick with healthier lifestyles.

Managing Obesity/Overweight for Veterans Everywhere, or MOVE, is part of the Healthier U.S. Veterans program, a joint effort by the VA and the Department of Health and Human Services. Anyone can answer a 23-question health quiz online, with questions on topics ranging from eating habits to your emotional state.


Based on answers to the questions, a printable, individualized health plan is created, with suggestions on how to change eating habits, ways to incorporate exercise into daily routine and tips on keeping expectations realistic when starting a new health plan.

Those already enrolled in a VA health plan are also given instructions on how to follow up with a VA health care provider, and are supplied with a code so that their doctor can access their quiz responses and the exercise and eating suggestions generated by the Web site.

The VA estimates 70 percent of its patients are overweight, higher than the 64 percent of the average U.S. population. The recent increase in Type 2 diabetes, or adult-onset diabetes, is often linked by scientists to obesity.

Article

[Obesity Discussion]

Obesity initiative undergoing final review
State is trying to equip Virginians with a plan for healthy lifestyles

BY TAMMIE SMITH
TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER Aug 24, 2006


Virginia officials are doing a final review of a health department initiative to address obesity in the state.

About 60 percent of Virginia adults are overweight or obese, according to a federal survey done periodically of health-risk behaviors. Research studies out this week show that carrying even a few extra pounds increases health risks.

"An extra 10 pounds on your body over the years could have severe complications," said Jeremy Akers, obesity-prevention nutritionist at the Virginia Department of Health. He was not surprised by the study results; past studies have reached similar conclusions.

Such problems as heart disease, high cholesterol and hypertension are associated with obesity, as well as problems with knees, hips and other joints.

Last year, state health department officials held a series of meetings in Virginia to get community input on how to prevent and control obesity. Health officials say comments and strategies from those discussions have been put into a report that is undergoing final review.

The final product, Akers said, will be coordinated with the state's Healthy Virginians program started by then-Gov. Mark R. Warner. That program promotes healthy behaviors among state employees, schoolchildren and Medicaid enrollees.

In a related effort, the state Board of Health has made addressing the toll of chronic diseases on the health of Virginians a top priority. Obesity is a leading risk factor for such chronic diseases as arthritis, diabetes, heart disease and hypertension.

"What this research has done is simply further validate the impact that aberrant behavior, and the traits that we all know about, contribute to less than optimal outcomes," said Jack O. Lanier, chairman of the Virginia Board of Health.

Obesity is partly a result of the "richness of our society. We have developed a fairly attractive way of life in America," Lanier said. "How do you get people to take charge of their own life and lifestyle and make the decision, the sacrifice, to say I am going to minimize my caloric intake and make a conscious decision to exercise daily?"

The 2005 federal survey of health-risk behaviors noted that in Virginia:


70 percent of those surveyed said they did not get the recommended 20 or more minutes of vigorous physical activity three or more days per week.


Only about 26 percent consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day.

The 2005 survey polled about 5,000 Virginians.

Obesity Initiative

[Obesity Discussion]

Kaine releases Va. plans to combat obesity
Preliminary report from CHAMPION program formed after series of meetings discuss factors in obesity

Marisa Roman, Cavalier Daily Associate Editor

Gov. Tim Kaine released the preliminary report from the Commonwealth's Healthy Approach and Mobilization Plan for Inactivity, Obesity and Nutrition, or CHAMPION program. This report outlined the foundation for plans to curb the Commonwealth's growing obesity problem.

Established in 2004, the CHAMPION program seeks to gather information from all communities in the Commonwealth to assess factors important for decreasing obesity. According to a press release from the governor's office, over 900 people representing 250 organizations identified 4,500 factors relating to obesity through a series of meetings.

Donna Seward, director of the state divisions of the Woman, Infants and Children Program and Community Nutrition Services, said the state Department of Health has not yet decided on any specific programs to limit obesity but that CHAMPION intends to address the severity of obesity fully in all age groups.

"CHAMPION works from infancy starting with pregnancy through the end of life," Seward said. "We're trying to do a full life span, since we are seeing more Type II diabetes in young children and well beyond adolescents."

According to the release, obesity factors found in through the various studies were divided into four main themes to form the foundation of the comprehensive CHAMPION plan: media intervention, nutrition education, community involvement and public policy.

"Finding programs that will address the four main things will deal with the problem in the best way possible," Seward said.

Mark Fletcher, director of the Intramural Recreational Sport program at the University, said poor fitness and eating habits begin long before students enter the University.

"The public schools over the years have continued to cut back on physical education programs in K-12 programs," Fletcher said. "I think they are now seeing the repercussions of that."

Fletcher also said University students have an advantage over the rest of the state since they have a 94 percent participation rate in intramural sports.

"I think students at U.Va. are very good about getting involved in the lifestyle that says 'I should take care of myself,'" Fletcher said. "It doesn't mean that there aren't abuses of that, but I think that our student body is better than most."

According to the release, programs to curb obesity will be evaluated on their effectiveness and proven results.

Seward said she believes that all of the main levels of the plan must be addressed in order to stop obesity fully.

"Obesity is the new smoking problem," Seward said "It's a society issue, and we must address it on all those levels if we are going to have any impact."

Obesity in Virginia

[Obesity Discussion]

Legislation Targets Childhood Obesity Among Va. Children
(Photo: AP)








01/15/2007
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)- State lawmakers are considering bills to regulate what children eat at schools.
The legislation targeting childhood obesity would empower school administrators to measure Body Mass Indexes among their youngest students.
Other lawmakers have urged a comprehensive study of obesity in Virginia's schools.
And Gov. Tim Kaine touched on the topic during a State of the Commonwealth address last week.
Democratic Sen. Yvonne Miller of Norfolk says healthy measures stumble most in less affluent school systems.
Miller's bill would require a BMI measurement for every first-time kindergarten or elementary student.
But eating disorders specialist Deb Burgard says such legislation "adds to the stigma against fat children."
She questions the emphasis on BMIs- which some critics say offer an oversimplified view of one's health.
Childhood Obesity in Virginia

[Obesity Discussion]

State lawmakers this week will address payday lending and childhood obesity

Trans fats in school cafeterias, payday lending and childhood obesity top the many issues state lawmakers will consider this week.
Senator John Edwards is proposing public schools phase out trans fats from their menus. It would begin with their elimination from vegetable oils next year. Delegate Ward Armstrong has a bill that would require the superintendent of public schools and state health commissioner to work together to combat childhood obesity.

Childhood Obesity in Virginia

[Irving]

Originally Posted by Obesity Discussion

Legislation Targets Childhood Obesity Among Va. Children
(Photo: AP)


01/15/2007
RICHMOND, Va. (AP)- State lawmakers are considering bills to regulate what children eat at schools.
The legislation targeting childhood obesity would empower school administrators to measure Body Mass Indexes among their youngest students.
Other lawmakers have urged a comprehensive study of obesity in Virginia's schools.
And Gov. Tim Kaine touched on the topic during a State of the Commonwealth address last week.
Democratic Sen. Yvonne Miller of Norfolk says healthy measures stumble most in less affluent school systems.
Miller's bill would require a BMI measurement for every first-time kindergarten or elementary student.
But eating disorders specialist Deb Burgard says such legislation "adds to the stigma against fat children."
She questions the emphasis on BMIs- which some critics say offer an oversimplified view of one's health.
Childhood Obesity in Virginia

I wish the government would get it in their heads that BMI is not always a good measurement of obesity They need to get these kids body fat tested, not BMI tested. Regardless some parents will complain that this is an invasion of privacy.