A BETTER LIFE

"This insidious, creeping pandemic of obesity is now engulfing the entire world. It's as big a threat as global warming and bird flu."

--Paul Zimmet, Chairman International Congress on Obesity. 2005

Most of us are accustomed to gaining a few pounds during this past holiday season. Unfortunately, more and more of us are sitting down at the table at an already unhealthy weight. Nationwide, nearly 7 in 10 adults and 3 in 10 children are overweight. One in 3 children will develop diabetes in their lifetime, and for the first time in history, children have the potential to not outlive their parents[1]. The progressive up tick in our longevity also threatens to reverse itself this century if we fail to address the problem of obesity[2].

We are in the midst of an epidemic, a public health crisis that demands year-round attention. This country alone spends close to $120 billion dollars in treating the adverse effects of obesity1. Many factors contribute to this problem. We eat meals out of buckets because it is easy and affordable to access non-nutritious foods. We all need to exercise more. The good news is that the situation is not hopeless if we just make a few simple lifestyle changes and make our health a strategic priority. Everyone is a stakeholder in combating obesity. Here are a few suggestions to get us started.

Parents. The greatest role models are our own families. Parents should continue to set positive examples for children in health choice and behavior. Parents can also be health activists through action at their child's school. In addition, they should be engaged in the political process shaping sound school healthy policy and should contact their local and state legislators encouraging them to continue to fight for the future health and welfare of their children.

Kids. We cannott always be with them, so we must instill in them from early on the importance of better food choices at home and in school and encourage them to seek out activities that provide physical benefits. We must give them the information and confidence to make those decisions themselves. Less TV! There is little doubt among experts that the precursors of cardiovascular disease, starts in childhood both in terms of behavior and action[3].

Health Professionals. The adverse health results of obesity impact both primary care and specialty medicine. Therefore, the hundred of thousands of physicians and allied health professionals must be involved in educating their patients and local school systems about healthy lifestyles and disease prevention.

Schools. Since our children spend so much of their time in schools, all efforts must continue to allow educators to be additional role models for our children. Administrators and teachers must continue to actively embrace federal and state initiatives for healthy lunch programs and meaningful mandatory physical fitness curricula, adopting programs at the individual school level. Schools need to be committed towards eliminating unhealthy lunches. Research has shown that it is more effective teaching children earlier rather than later about cardiovascular wellness in order to decrease the future risk of developing adverse health effects from childhood obesity[4].

Business Leaders. Any effort at wellness requires cooperation with businesses. Companies should be fostering healthy habits because it is good for business. A healthy worker is a happy and productive worker. Business should create positive and negative incentives for good health, should select employee health plans that focus on preventive and primary care, and should not have employees with healthy habits subsidizing those without. Healthy children today make efficient workers tomorrow!

Policymakers. Government is charged with the task of developing sound public policy. Our elected officials should be sponsors of healthy living and preventative health legislation. They must each be held accountable by the electorate to set aside other interests and focus on the best interests of the citizens. It has been recently shown that most Americans support changes in public policy to stem the rising tide of obesity.[5]

I am not naive. This will not be simple. There are many challenges and barriers to overcome, but the need for reconditioning is compelling. We can always build on small successes, so let's create a family trajectory that begins with personal responsibility! It is up to all of us to get involved in our own communities and demand action of ourselves and of others who have an influence on our health and welfare. We can continue to build healthier communities by together leveraging our collective talent and commit that effort toward this common goal and together we can all live a better life.

By: Paul Robert Ehrmann, D.O.

Dr. Ehrmann is a family practice physician in Royal Oak for the past 25 years and father of three children. He is a member of the Michigan Action for Healthy Kids Coalition and the founder of the award winning Children's Health Initiative Program (C.H.I.P.) a healthy living community partnership program for elementary school children and their families. More information about the program can be found at his web site www.chipkids.com.

[1] CDC-Department of Prevention-cdc.gov

[2] Olshansky, et al, Potential Decline in Life Expectancy in the 21^st Century, NEJM March 17, 2005; 352:11:1139-1144

[3] Kavey, R., et al, American Heart Association Guidelines for Primary Prevention of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Beginning in Childhood, Circulation 2003;107:1562

[4] Piran, et al, American Heart Association's Scientific Sessions 2006.

[5] Fuemmeler, B., et al, Journal of Preventative Medicine, January 2007