I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.
Matthew 17:20
Francis Collins, of the NIH, says families and communities play key roles in curbing obesity.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
"How do we turn this situation around? We didn't get here quickly or easily. Don't let anyone tell you that there is just one simple solution. At the National Institutes of Health, we have a vigorous ongoing research program to test interventions and to determine what works and what doesn't. Here are some of the lessons we have learned:
"For the individual, we need to overcome the perception that obesity is just a matter of willpower — blaming the victim doesn't help. And for real change, individuals need to get past the crash-diet mentality to a lifestyle plan of healthy eating and increased physical activity. People need tools that can assist them in making these changes, including support groups and Web- or cellphone-based tools that allow tracking of diet and exercise to provide feedback.
"Families are crucial — unless the whole family gets involved in a plan to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it will be difficult for the individual to succeed.
"Communities are essential to success. Public education programs are critical. Redesigning the built environment to promote active lifestyles and access to healthy foods needs to be a priority; schools need to develop healthier lunch programs and access to physical education.
"Businesses that get engaged in providing incentives for a healthy lifestyle are finding that this yields results in productivity and reduced health care costs.
"National policies need to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles instead of working against them.
"America, we have a weight problem. But don't despair, we can beat it. We have faced other challenges as a nation, and we can overcome this one, but we'll have to do it together."
Problem is one of misperception, not of willpower
ReplyDeleteFrancis Collins, of the NIH, says families and communities play key roles in curbing obesity.(Photo: Jack Gruber, USA TODAY)
"How do we turn this situation around? We didn't get here quickly or easily. Don't let anyone tell you that there is just one simple solution. At the National Institutes of Health, we have a vigorous ongoing research program to test interventions and to determine what works and what doesn't. Here are some of the lessons we have learned:
"For the individual, we need to overcome the perception that obesity is just a matter of willpower — blaming the victim doesn't help. And for real change, individuals need to get past the crash-diet mentality to a lifestyle plan of healthy eating and increased physical activity. People need tools that can assist them in making these changes, including support groups and Web- or cellphone-based tools that allow tracking of diet and exercise to provide feedback.
"Families are crucial — unless the whole family gets involved in a plan to adopt a healthier lifestyle, it will be difficult for the individual to succeed.
"Communities are essential to success. Public education programs are critical. Redesigning the built environment to promote active lifestyles and access to healthy foods needs to be a priority; schools need to develop healthier lunch programs and access to physical education.
"Businesses that get engaged in providing incentives for a healthy lifestyle are finding that this yields results in productivity and reduced health care costs.
"National policies need to promote healthy eating and active lifestyles instead of working against them.
"America, we have a weight problem. But don't despair, we can beat it. We have faced other challenges as a nation, and we can overcome this one, but we'll have to do it together."