Public Health issues report citing alarming increase in unhealthy body weight

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - At today's King County Board of Health meeting, Public Health - Seattle & King County issued Public Health Data Watch: Overweight and Obesity in King County. The report cites a dramatic increase during the last 15 years in the number and proportion of overweight and obese King County residents.

"It's paramount that we begin to live healthier lives. We are consuming too much food and doing too little exercise," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Reducing obesity must become a priority for all of our residents."

"Unhealthy weight is the second leading cause of preventable death, after tobacco use, and weight problems affect both length of life and quality of life," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Unhealthy weight increases the risk of a wide range of life-threatening and disabling health conditions, including diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease."

Among the main findings:

• By 2001, one in every two King County residents (52%) was overweight or obese. Fifteen years ago, 37% of the population was overweight or obese.
• In the last 15 years, the prevalence of obesity, which carries the greater health risk, more than doubled, rising from 7% to 16%.
• Overweight and obesity are more common in those aged 45 to 64.
• The obesity rates in King County's southeast and southwest regions were higher than for the east, central and north regions.
• African Americans and American Indians are at elevated risk.

The complete report, Public Health Data Watch: Overweight and Obesity in King County, can be viewed at: www.kingcounty.gov/health/datawatch

"About 680,000 adults in our county are either overweight or obese," said Plough. "The epidemic of obesity should be addressed with the same vigor as any infectious disease epidemic."

Weight is also a problem in children and adolescents. In 1999, about one in five Seattle school children were above normal weight. "The weight trend in children is alarming since overweight adolescents are more likely to become overweight adults," said Dr. David Solet of Public Health's Epidemiology, Planning and Evaluation Unit.

Public Health states that the increase is probably due to complex changes in individual lifestyle choices and environmental pressures.

"The environment encourages unhealthy eating and discourages physical activity," said Dr. Gary Goldbaum of Public Health's Prevention Division and a family practice physician. "We should try to promote an environment that encourages safe walking and bicycling, as well as physical education for children."

The Public Health report also points out that more than seven in 10 adults (73%) are either completely sedentary (15%) or are not sufficiently physically active.

Public Health recommends that all residents, regardless of weight status, should:

• balance food intake with physical activity on a daily basis
• eat a total of five fruits and vegetables per day
• do 30 minutes of moderate physical activity per day

"There are too many false claims and mixed messages regarding diets and exercise," said Dr. Cheza Collier, a Public Health chronic disease prevention expert. "Public Health's message is simple: eat healthy and exercise regularly."

In addition to links to organizations for people interested in this issue, the report also provides a chart so readers can find out if they have a healthy weight.

In December 2001, the Office of the Surgeon General released a "Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity" that was followed by a nationwide effort to develop an action plan to combat overweight and obesity. Surgeon General David Satcher stated that overweight and obesity might soon cause as much preventable disease and death as cigarette smoking.

The Office of the Surgeon General's "Call to Action to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity" is at: www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity