About 72 million people are overweight, based on a formula that uses height and weight to determine body mass. Under that formula, a person who is 5 ft. 5 inches is overweight at 150 pounds, and obese at 180 pounds.
The Public Health Advocacy Institute, a nonprofit organization located in the Northwestern School of Law, brought together many experts to develop 47 recommendations for public policies to combat the obesity epidemic. Among their suggestions are to tax unhealthy foods; improve food choices in schools; require more physical education; limit advertisements for unhealthy foods and beverages; and increase funding for nutritional research. Members of the Institute presented the recommendations to representatives of the incoming Obama administration.
Many experts, a group that includes Dr. Adam Drewnowski of the University of Washington in Seattle, believe that obesity and overweight may increase even more during economically difficult times.
"People are going to economize [during a recession]," he said. "As they save money on food, they will eat more empty calories or foods high in sugar, saturated fasts, and refined grains, which are cheaper."
During economic downturns, low cost restaurants such as McDonalds tend to do well, whereas stores that sell organic and natural foods, such as Whole Foods, tend to lose money.
"We associate poverty with obesity because energy-dense foods are less expensive," noted Dr. Robert Eckel, former president of the American Heart Association.
Labels: obesity_rates, experts
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