The Epidemic of Obesity: Personal Choice or Environmental Consequence?

obesityOverview

Obesity has become a health problem of epidemic proportions. More than sixty percent of adults in the United States are overweight or obese, and fifteen percent of children from age six to seventeen are considered overweight. This epidemic will likely increase the number of deaths due to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and cancer. But the costs do not stop there. In the United States approximately $100 billion is spent on obesity each year. Efforts to reduce the impact of obesity on our health and economy begin with the community. The environment in which we live has a tremendous effect on our health. One community that has mobilized its resources and is dedicated to overcoming obesity is San Antonio, Texas. Join us as we discuss the efforts of San Antonio to energize its community, make physical activity and nutrition a priority, and end the epidemic of obesity.

Goal

To increase awareness of personal and environmental risk factors contributing to obesity, promote traditional and non-traditional public health partnerships, and strengthen the public health infrastructure.

Objectives

  • Define obesity and understand the extent of its prevalence.
  • Identify three causes of mortality associated with obesity.
  • Describe the personal and environmental risk factors that contribute to the epidemic of obesity.
  • Identify three community strategies to reduce the incidence of obesity.

Audience

Public health, environmental and civic leaders, managers, and professionals from local and state government agencies, boards of health, community-based health organizations, academic institutions, federal agencies, and others who seek to increase awareness of the epidemic of obesity, promote healthy and active lifestyles in their communities, and understand the relationship between the environment and chronic disease.

 
No presenter in this program has a financial interest or other relationship with manufacturers of commercial products, providers of commercial services or commercial supporters.
No presenter in this program will discuss the unlabeled use of commercial products or products for investigational use.