The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) held its first "Weight of the Nation" conference on July 27 - 29, 2009. The conference reinforced HEAL's approach to addressing obesity in New Hampshire and provided a forum to highlight progress in the prevention and control of obesity through policy and environmental strategies. They focused on four settings: community, health care, school, and workplace.
Cost Savings in a Wellness Focused System
While the health impacts of obesity have been well documented, a new study released by the CDC shows that the US spends $147 billion every year treating obesity related medical conditions. In her address during the conference, HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius remarked, "to put that figure in perspective, the American Cancer Society estimates that all cancers combined cost our health care system $93 billion a year. So ending obesity would save our health care system fifty percent more dollars than curing cancer." Sebelius further said, "and it's a major part of the broader commitment the Obama administration has made to transforming our health care system from a sickness system to a wellness system, a commitment that will make us not just a healthier, but also a wealthier country."
Other national leaders delivered powerful messages about the importance of obesity prevention efforts at the national, state and local levels including: Former President Bill Clinton, CDC Director Thomas Frieden, and Iowa Senator Tom Harkin. Dr. Joseph Thompson, Arkansas Surgeon General, who was a panelist on school wellness, will be the keynote speaker for our 2009 HEAL NH Conference in October.
HEAL NH Participants
Representatives and partners of the HEAL Initiative that attended the conference were Regina Flynn and Becky Bukowski from NH DHHS, Shawn LaFrance and Terry Johnson from the Foundation for Healthy Communities, and Karrie Kalich from Keene State College. All of these individuals will work to incorporate the information and resources gained at "Weight of the Nation" into the HEAL Initiative.
