America's progress on stopping obesity has been too slow, says a new report released yesterday by the Institute of Medicine. The report, "Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation," identifies strategies for accelerating success that concentrate on healthy foods and beverages, as well as opportunities for making physical activity a routine part of daily life.
Released during the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Weight of the Nation conference, the report focuses on five critical goals for preventing obesity:
- integrating physical activity into people's daily lives,
- making healthy food and beverage options available everywhere,
- transforming marketing and messages about nutrition and activity,
- making schools a gateway to healthy weight, and
- galvanizing employers and healthcare professionals to support healthy lifestyles.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation asked the IOM to identify catalysts that could speed progress in obesity prevention. The committee assessed more than 800 obesity- prevention recommendations to identify ones that could work together effectively, reinforce impact and accelerate obesity prevention.
IDFA is reviewing the 478-page report and will highlight dairy-related issues in an upcoming newsletter. For more information, contact Michelle Matto, IDFA consultant on nutrition and labeling, at amfoodnutrition@gmail.com.
The Weight of the Nation Conference, held May 7-9 in Washington, D.C., was designed to highlight progress in the prevention and control of obesity through policy and environmental strategies. The audience included elected and appointed public policy makers; federal, state and local public health leaders; and researchers engaged in policy- related obesity prevention and control initiatives.