I thought that you all would be interested in Tommy's concern about the
state of obesity in our children:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH

NIH News

National Institute of Diabetes
and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
http://www.niddk.nih.gov/

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, August 24, 2004

CONTACT:
Leslie Curtis, NIDDK
301-496-3583


NIH RELEASES RESEARCH STRATEGY TO FIGHT OBESITY EPIDEMIC

NIH Director Elias M. Zerhouni, M.D., today announced the
release of the final version of the "Strategic Plan for NIH
Obesity Research", a multi-dimensional research agenda to
enhance both the development of new research in areas of
greatest scientific opportunity and the coordination of
obesity research across NIH. The report is on the web at
<http://obesityresearch.nih.gov>.

"We are pleased about this focused effort to identify
research opportunities in obesity. We are especially
concerned about the serious problems we see emerging in
overweight children. Many of these are problems that we
used to see only in adults," said Zerhouni.

HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson has targeted obesity as a
major priority of the Department. "There is no doubt that
obesity is an epidemic that must be stopped. This plan
gives us a clear focus for confronting obesity with
science-based research approaches," Thompson said.

Emphasizing the importance of cross-cutting investigations,
the plan calls for interdisciplinary research teams to
bridge the study of behavioral and environmental causes of
obesity with the study of genetic and biologic causes.
Lifestyle interventions could be improved through a greater
understanding of genetic and biologic aspects and vice
versa. Also, successful prevention and treatment of obesity
may require a combination of behavioral, environmental and
medical approaches in highly susceptible individuals.

The Plan calls for intensifying efforts along several
fronts:

-- Behavioral and environmental approaches to modifying
lifestyle to prevent or treat obesity

-- Pharmacologic, surgical and other medical approaches to
effectively and safely prevent or treat obesity

-- Breaking the link between obesity and diseases such as
type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers

-- Research on special populations at high risk for
obesity, including children, ethnic minorities, women and
older adults

-- Translating basic science results into clinical research
and then into community intervention studies

-- Disseminating research results to the public and health
professionals.

The most recent figures from the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention show that 65 percent of U.S. adults
- or about 129.6 million people - are either overweight or
obese. In addition to decreasing quality of life and
increasing the risk of premature death, obesity and
overweight cost the Nation an estimated $117 billion in
direct medical costs and indirect costs such as lost wages
due to illness.

Against this backdrop, Zerhouni created the NIH Obesity
Research Task Force in the spring of 2003 to intensify
basic and clinical research and to enhance coordination of
obesity research across NIH. The group developed the
"Strategic Plan for NIH Obesity Research" with input from
many scientists at academic and other settings across the
country, organizations advocating for patients and health
professionals, and other members of the public.

"By focusing on goals with the greatest scientific
opportunity and challenge, we are optimistic that NIH can
greatly expand the knowledge base on this complex, multi-
faceted disorder," said Allen M. Spiegel, M.D., Director of
the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases. Spiegel also co-chairs the Task Force with
Barbara Alving, M.D., Acting Director of the National
Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.

NIH invested $378.6 million for obesity research in fiscal
year 2003, will invest about $400.1 million in fiscal year
2004, and is projected to support obesity research
amounting to about $440.3 million in fiscal year 2005, an
increase of about 10 percent over 2004.

"Obesity increases individuals' risk for a whole host of
diseases, with cardiovascular disease right at the top of
the list," said Dr. Alving. "By addressing obesity in such
a comprehensive way, NIH stands to make major inroads to
helping both children and adults enjoy healthy and fully
active lives."
Printed copies of the Strategic Plan may be ordered from
NIH's Weight-control Information Network at (877) 946-4627
and online at
<http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health/nutrit/nutrit.htm>.

##

This NIH News Release is available online at:
http://www.nih.gov/news/pr/aug2004/niddk-24.htm


Strange that the word breastfeeding is never mentioned, don't you think?

Ellen Penchuk, IBCLC, RLC

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