SUPPORTING
EFFORTS IN THE PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF
OBESITY AND OVERWEIGHT
WHEREAS,
over 64 percent of American adults are either obese or overweight; and in the
past decade, the prevalence of obesity and overweight has increased by 70 and
12 percent, respectively; and
WHEREAS, obesity is the second leading
cause of preventable deaths resulting in over 300,000 deaths in the United
States; and obesity is correlated with 30 medical conditions, including Type 2
diabetes, coronary heart disease, hypertension, and osteoarthritis; and
WHEREAS, approximately 15 percent of
children and adolescents (ages 6 to 19) are obese and about 30 percent of
children and adolescents are overweight; and in the past 25 years, the
prevalence of obesity in children (ages 6 to 11) has more than quadrupled and
the prevalence of obesity in adolescents (ages 12-19) has more than doubled;
and in the past three decades, the prevalence of overweight children and
adolescents has increased approximately 11 percent; and
WHEREAS, obesity and overweight in
children and adolescents are predictors of excess weight in adulthood and are
associated with increased morbidity and mortality; and obesity and overweight
are correlated with asthma, type 2 diabetes, hypertension, orthopedic
complications, psycho-social effects, stigma, and sleep apnea in children; and
WHEREAS,
in 2003 approximately $75 billion in medical expenditures were attributed to
obesity, half of which were financed by Medicare and Medicaid; and
WHEREAS,
overweight and obesity disproportionately affects African Americans, Hispanic
Americans, Native Americans, women and persons of low socioeconomic status
within minority populations,
NOW,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors
recognizes obesity and overweight as conditions that can persist from childhood
to adulthood, that are associated with chronic disease, and that cause
preventable and premature deaths in adults, adolescents and children; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages
and supports local leadership in obesity and overweight prevention; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports
policies and public health programs that reduce obesity and overweight and
improve wellness such as community-wide campaigns, “point-of decision” prompts,
school-based physical education, school-based health education, media
campaigns, social support programs, individually-adapted health behavior
change, improved access to places for physical activity, informational outreach
activities, and land use planning and community design; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors encourages
and supports a range of public health interventions to address land use,
environmental, cultural, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors associated with
obesity and overweight; and
BE
IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States Conference of Mayors supports
the development of policies that address social injustices that contributes to
the disproportionate burden of obesity and overweight among under-represented,
low-income, and socially disadvantaged populations; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States
Conference of Mayors encourages and supports partnerships among local, state,
federal agencies, community groups and private organizations in their efforts
to reduce obesity and overweight; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that The United States
Conference of Mayors encourages the federal, state and local governments to
allocate funding and resources to the prevention and treatment of obesity and
overweight.
©2004 U.S. Conference of Mayors 