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October 14, 2004
Addressing Obesity
I am writing from Atlanta, where I am attending the annual board meeting of the CDC Foundation, the non-profit organization that helps the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention partner with the private sector.
Last night at dinner I sat next to Mary Lewis, who has a radio show on National Public Radio. Her program is aimed at the African American community and focuses on health issues. She told me that African Americans are four times more likely to be obese than other Americans, a result of poor diet, lack of exercise options and stress caused by economic pressures. I was fascinated to learn about the emergence of health ministers at African American churches, who are appointed by the ministers of the congregations. They are health professionals, often nurses. They organize cooking classes, health walks, diabetes control seminars, prostate cancer screenings and mammography sessions. The health minister's goal is to increase attendance at church. Simply stated, too many congregants were unable to attend because of obesity related illnesses. It occurred to me that the health minister is adding the personal touch to the science of weight reduction, bringing solutions and camaraderie, working together for mutual benefit.
I also heard Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC, speak about the mission of the organization. She believes that CDC must now be a global force in protecting Americans and other nations from emerging health threats. She talked about partnership with the private sector in disease detection. She noted a recent discussion with Michael Dell, chairman of the large IT company DELL, when he offered to inform CDC of any major incidence of absenteeism among his 25,000 workers outside of the US, perhaps providing CDC with advance notice of an outbreak of influenza. Dr. Gerberding added that CDC is open to accepting extramural research on issues like obesity because the CDC cannot scale its own operations quickly enough to provide the evidence-based solutions necessary to fight this disease. She has initiated a National Center for Health Marketing to emphasize customer service to the state and local health offices that deliver the care, particularly to those at greatest risk of health disparities.
My conclusion from the dinner is that business has a responsibility to look again at its relationships with government and the non-profit sector. The CDC is the most trusted unit in the American Government, according to a recent Harris Poll. Churches play a vital role in the daily lives of many of their constituents. By partnering with these institutions to fight a global epidemic like obesity, business can have greater credibility in bringing forward programs that will have a serious benefit for employees and consumers alike.
Richard
Posted by Edelman at October 14, 2004 11:02 AM
Comments
Mr. Edelman, I totall agree w/you in regard to the health issues affecting not only the African-American community but the world as well. I currently attend a very large church in the Washington DC area and I must say in the African American community we are on the brink of a epidemic when it comes to obesity. I agree that private sector along w/the non-profit sector have a vital role to play in the changing of attitudes when it comes to health in our country.All companies who have a work force will be effected by this surging epidemic. Thank you for caring enough to even discuss it.
Sincerely,
Concerned
Posted by: Concerned at October 14, 2004 5:04 PM
On a similar topic, it is interesting to note that the National Cancer Institute has for the past 2 years (mis)spent millions of dollars by paying Urban AC morning show host Tom Joyner to be the face of their 5 a day program aimed at heart health/curbing obesity in African Americans M 35+.
Have you seen Tom? Not only is he markedly overweight with health issues, but he is also the pitchman for McDonalds and Ben Jerry's! Which message should I believe Mr. E? Eat McD's and chase it with a chunky monkey shake? or eat 5 servings of veggies per day? I can't take these messages seriously!
While I believe that Network Radio in the Urban format is a wonderful place for these messages since African Americans tend to be among the heaviest users of radio, until their is some consistency between the message and the pitchman, it's just another case of Taxpayers money being wasted (corrupted?) probably by cronism.
Posted by: Bob at October 15, 2004 9:30 AM
Very useful comments - good to read
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Posted by: Lily at October 18, 2004 5:44 PM
You are doing a good job with your blog here. I particularly enjoyed your post on India. This said, I must address your recent obesity remarks.
Obesity is not the issue here. Shame is the issue. Shame people into feeling badly about themselves and they will move their bodies less freely, especially in public.
Shame people into feeling badly about themselves and they will begin to lack the necessary courage to rise to the challenge of fighting fat prejudice on the job, at school and in their communities. Their lives will shrink, along with their options.
You would, apparently, be surprised to discover that the world is full of healthy, accomplished, fat people, Mr. Edelman. Unfortunately, you’re too busy wagging your finger and going with the flow to take notice.
Obesity is not the epidemic. Demoralizing Fat bashing is.
Viva La Vida!
Posted by: Marsha Coupé at October 27, 2004 10:32 AM
There are many facets contributing to the problem, but surely the "time-constricted" American family situation counts for a lot: with two parents working, children stay indoors with electronics, weekends become work-weekends filled with errands previously done during the week. And of course, meals are cooked on the run, not necessarily given much dietary thought. AND of course, we're all supposed to only use cars to get places and our urban environment discourages walking. In Illinois, I'm pursuing the possibility of putting together an advocacy group to promote pedestrian improvements, simply because transportation funding procedures let sidewalks fall by the wayside in development.
Posted by: Todd Volker at October 30, 2004 2:32 PM
Obesity has unfortunately become a global pandemic affecting the existence of millions of people, according to the World Health Organization. It is an accelerating social problem in many countries of the world, especially those more affluent.
Obesity is very often defined as an eating disorder. However, it is not just a case of eating too much. Health experts report that obesity is a potentially fatal disease prevalent in our society.
As this “obesity epidemic” gains momentum, so does the number of individuals who suffer from it. Approximately 300,000 adult deaths in the USA alone each year can be directly linked to unhealthy dietary habits and physical inactivity or obesity. In the USA alone, almost a third of the adult population suffers from obesity. In Europe, the figures are much the same. However, an astonishing 58 per cent of the United Kingdom's adult population is considered to be obese or chronically over weight according to a recently published report.
Posted by: Ken Nickless at March 20, 2008 3:08 AM