Despite past successes, considerable public health challenges continue and they represent serious threats to our nation’s health and to our health care system in terms of cost and capacity. Of particular concern are rising rates of non-communicable chronic conditions such as obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease, and cancer. In 2005, nearly half of adults, 133 million, had at least one chronic illness.(1) Obesity is defined as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher. BMI of 25-29.9 is considered overweight, and BMI of 18.5-24.9 is considered healthy. In 1990, the prevalence of adult obesity was at or below 15 percent in all states. In 2000, only one state (Colorado) still had an adult obesity prevalence below 15 percent. Still, in more than half of states, the prevalence was below 20 percent, and no state had a prevalence at or above 30 percent.(2) As of 2010, every state has an adult obesity prevalence of at least 20 percent. Furthermore, twelve states (up from nine states in 2009) have a prevalence of 30 percent or more. See an interactive map of these changes.(3) The IOM estimates that reducing the prevalence of adult obesity by 50 percent, about the same relative reduction as was achieved through public health’s multi-faceted attack on smoking prevalence during the latter decades of the 20th century, could create a $58 billion reduction in annual U.S. medical care expenditures.(3) A publication is available online that discusses revitalizing public health, investing in a healthier future, and bolstering public health investment to improve health outcomes in the United States.(4)
References
1. Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, July 2010. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/overview/index.htm#ref1.
2. Adult Obesity Facts. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, updated April 2012. Available online at: http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
3. http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html.
4. For the Public’s Health: Investing in a Healthier Future. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Medicine, April 2012. Available online at: http://www.iom.edu/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2012/For-the-Publics-Health/phfunding_rb.pdf.
5. http://www.dentalantioxidants.com/antioxidants-and-oral-health.
6. https://www.periosciences.com.
Sincerely,
Maria Perno Goldie, RDH, MS
To read previous RDH eVillage FOCUS introductions by Maria Perno Goldie, go to introductions.
