RESOLUTION
IN SUPPORT OF COMMUNITY OBESITY INITIATIVES
Whereas,
two
thirds of all Americans are overweight; almost one third are obese;
Whereas,
obesity
is now considered to equal smoking as a leading cause of preventable death in
the US;
Whereas,
the
prevalence of obesity has been labeled by the Centers for Disease Control and
the US Surgeon General as a major health care problem;
Whereas,
Michigan
ranks 4th highest nationally in the rate of obesity;
Whereas,
25.2%
of Michigan adults are obese;
Whereas,
obesity
in children between 5 and 19 years of age has tripled in the US in the last 25
years;
Whereas,
80%
of overweight children ages 10-14, with at least one overweight parent, will be
obese as adults;
Whereas,
obesity
has been associated with a high risk of diabetes;
Whereas,
Michigan
ranks 8th highest nationally in the rate of diabetes;
Whereas,
8.1%
of adults have been told they have diabetes;
Whereas,
one third of all children born in the year 2000 will develop diabetes;
Whereas,
lack
of exercise has also been associated with obesity;
Whereas,
$8.9 billion was the 2002 cost in Michigan for medical care, lost productivity,
and workers compensation due to the consequences of sedentary lifestyles.
Whereas,
obese
employees are twice as likely to be absent 14 or more times per year than
non-obese employees;
Whereas,
in 2003, obesity-related medical costs in Michigan totaled an estimated $2.9
billion;
Therefore
be it resolved, that
the Alliance for Health supports current and future collaboration among
community agencies throughout West Michigan to develop new initiatives and
increase current preventive and treatment efforts, in order to decrease the
incidence of obesity and conditions related to it.
Adopted
by the Alliance for Health Board of Directors at its meeting on May 17, 2004