Source: CDC, U.S. Obesity Trends 1985–2004

This chart represents the United States' fastest growing epidemic. It's not mad cow disease, not West Nile, and not avian flu. Our country's most serious epidemic is the rampant spread of obesity, particularly in children.

What are its causes?

The causes of obesity are numerous and complex, but put simply, we are eating too much and not doing enough physical activity. Americans are surrounded by a toxic food environment that our innate biological tendences are ill equipped to deal with. Food is cheap, well-marketed, and ubiquitous. Furthermore, many Americans engage in little or no physical activity. The result is ever expanding wastelines that are having a dramatic effect on the public's health and our nation's ability to pay for the associated health care costs.

What can we do?

Action is necessary at many levels. Federal and State policymakers must act now to stem this growing public health threat. Medical students must push for meaningful policy change, while simultaneously addressing the issue at the grass-roots level through community outreach and education.

What can you do?

• Use our legislative action center to write letters to your representatives to pass legislation to help combat this epidemic.
• Talk to your local school board about keeping soda and unhealthy food out of schools
• Advocate for reimbursement for obesity treatment
• Make sure the areas where you work (hospitals and medical schools) offer healthy food choices
• Ensure that information about obesity is included in your school's curriculum
• Advocate for opportunities for physical activity at your school and in your community

AMSA EDUCATIONAL AND ACTIVIST RESOURCES

• Truffle Shuffle Presentation: (2.9MB PowerPoint Presentation)
  A step-by-step module addressing pediatric obesity with Presenter's Guide to help facilitate the presentation
• 2002-03 Obesity Project
• 2002-03 Project on Physical Activity
• Health Dialogues: A Tool to Help You and Your Patients Change Unhealthy Behavior
  Medical students rarely have the opportunity to learn about behavior change during medical school. However, studies have shown that physicians have great influence over patients' behaviors. Health Dialogues is a series of booklets designed to educate students on how to elicit behavior change among their future patients and to make students aware of their own behaviors so they, too, can make healthy lifestyle adjustments. 2002
  • Nutrition (PDF 85KB)
  • Physical Activity (PDF 65KB)