Doctors a force in battle of the bulge

The obesity crisis is worsening. But with physicians' help, Americans can reverse the trend.

Editorial. Nov. 8, 2004.

The scales can seem tipped against winning the war on obesity.

Supersized meals and junk food abound. Time in front of the TV and computer are taking the place of physical activity for parents and children alike. Amid the barrage of books, ads and infomercials on the latest diet and exercise fads, Americans on the whole are still putting on the pounds instead of shedding them.

But with the help of physicians, the nation can swing the balance the other way. It won't be easy.

Sixty-five percent of American adults are overweight, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Thirty percent of adults are obese -- that's more than 60 million people. Perhaps most alarming, children are a big part of the trend. About 16% -- more than 9 million -- are overweight.

The statistics are even worse for women and minorities. Non-Hispanic black women have the highest rate of obesity -- 49%.

With the problem now so entrenched as to be described as an epidemic, a multifaceted and multicultural approach is necessary. Organized medicine has launched a widespread campaign against obesity that reflects that reality.

Witness the American Medical Association's summit on obesity last month. It was an outgrowth of the overwhelming interest in the subject expressed by doctors at the June 2004 Annual Meeting, at which the Association also built on years of policy by passing several measures including a handful aimed at making sure cultural differences are taken into account in the fight against obesity.

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The doctors are in the house
The AMA's House of Delegates is holding its Interim Meeting Nov. 7-10 in Houston, addressing issues such as health system reform and physician payment.
Meeting coverage - Slideshow