CHICAGO, July 13, 2011 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — When it comes to their health, nearly 90 percent of Americans lack the literacy skills to understand basic medical information and instruction. Low literacy has been linked to poor health outcomes such as higher rates of hospitalization and less frequent use of preventive services. A few quick minutes with a physician is not sufficient for most of us to understand a complex or chronic medical condition and how we can manage it. But new research indicates that video storytelling can be an effective way to educate people about health conditions – and watching others share their health stories can empower people to take control of their own health.

BeSmartBeWell.com, a consumer health website produced by the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer, is at the forefront of this video storytelling health-information movement, helping people manage childhood obesity, drug safety, mental health, childhood asthma and more with videos that feature health experts and people living with these conditions.

Research findings

A study published earlier this year in the Annals of Internal Medicine found that storytelling can help change a person’s behavior–and bad health habits.  As patients “enter” the world of the storytellers, they can see themselves in that situation. As noted in the study, people with high blood pressure benefited more from video storytelling than from traditional teaching methods.

Stories people can relate to

BeSmartBeWell.com uses a similar approach to those highlighted in the research, presenting real kids, real teens and real parents talking about important health issues.

“When we developed our personal stories, we could imagine that the viewers would see these stories and go ’Gosh, they’re just like us. Look at them going to the grocery store and picking out healthy food. Look at them reading labels,” explains Stephanie Vomvouras, M.D., medical director, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, and BeSmartBeWell.com medical advisor.

See more of Dr. Vomvouras and others discussing BeSmartBeWell.com’s approach to consumer health education.

Reliable source

Produced in collaboration with medical experts and national health organizations, BeSmartBeWell.com is a non-commercial informational resource available to the public. At BeSmartBeWell.com, people will find:

• Credible resources and links
• Health news
• Expert Q&As
• Links to health tools and calculators
• In-depth articles

Consumers can also register for the monthly Spotlight newsletter and news alerts. For information about family-focused health topics—including childhood obesity, drug safety and teen dating violence–and to see more life stories, visit BeSmartBeWell.com.

About Be Smart. Be Well.

BeSmartBeWell.com is sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, Divisions of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Seeing is Believing, and the Key to Good Health | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Best Buy is raising awareness and discussing tactics to address the obesity problem in our communities at an event featuring Earvin “Magic” Johnson in conversation with Chicago community and youth organization leaders.

Mr. Johnson will join Best Buy employees as they demonstrate gaming, software, fitness and mobile app products and tools.

The presentation will focus on resources and technology that are easily accessible to encourage fitness in local communities.

The in-store event was conceived by Chicago-area Best Buy employees who wanted to make a difference by improving the quality of life for their customers and the community. The Stop Childhood Obesity website reports that 78% of Americans are not meeting basic activity-level recommendations and 25% are completely sedentary.

Today’s youth are considered the most inactive generation in history caused in part by reductions in school physical education programs and unavailable or unsafe community recreational facilities. The goal of the campaign for a ‘Better U at Best Buy’ is to address these statistics through products and applications that motivate users to be more active and monitor their diet.

Mr. Johnson, whose Chicago appearance is sponsored by Best Buy, is equally committed to helping children and youth develop healthy habits. Best Buy and Magic Johnson Enterprises have a strategic partnership that includes a commitment to enriching the lives of those in the communities they serve.

Mr. Johnson is the Chairman and CEO of Magic Johnson Enterprises, which owns and operates business ventures across 98 cities and 22 states. In addition to his business accomplishments, Johnson is universally known for his 13-year NBA career, which includes five national championships with the Los Angeles Lakers and a gold medal in the 1992 Olympic Games, among other honors.

WHEN:
Thursday, April 21, from 8:00-9:30 AM

WHERE:
Best Buy Chicago John Hancock Center store located at 875 North Michigan Avenue.

Visuals/Interviews:
9:30 AM — Mr. Johnson and Best Buy representatives will take questions from the media during a press conference. Media are also welcome to attend the community program at the store from 8:00 – 9:30 AM.

Please contact Mary Sorrel or Lara Lowman for credentials and press conference location (see media contact information below).

###

About Best Buy Co., Inc.

With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, China and Mexico, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $50 billion in annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, Best Buy Mobile, The Carphone Warehouse, Five Star, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Magnolia Audio Video, Napster, Pacific Sales, and The Phone House. Approximately 180,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way Best Buy does business. In fiscal 2011, the company donated approximately $25 million to improve the vitality of the communities where its employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bby.com.

About Magic Johnson Enterprises

Magic Johnson Enterprises, formed in 1987, serves as a catalyst for community and economic empowerment by making available high-quality entertainment, products and services that answer the demands of ethnically diverse urban communities. Through investment, partnership and consultation, Magic Johnson Enterprises has a portfolio of companies that strategically work together to reinforce the organization’s focus on serving emerging, multicultural communities. Learn more at www.magicjohnson.com.

Media Contacts:

Mary Sorrel, mPRessions
770-612-8330 (office)
404-791-5452 (mobile)

For credentials & access:

Lara Lowman, mPRessions
404-226-6340 (mobile)

Best Buy Welcomes Earvin “Magic” Johnson to Event Focusing on Health and Obesity Awareness | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

CHICAGO, Sept. 17 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — With obesity fears a constant concern, many are striving to eat better, seeking out affordable better-for-you food options. Whole grain products have certainly hit that sweet spot, and shoppers now have many options across food and beverage sectors. According to recent research from Mintel Global New Products Database (GNPD), more than 3,700 products were launched since 2005 with a “whole grain” claim in the US.

David Browne, senior analyst at Mintel notes, “2010 has been particularly strong so far, with 651 whole grain products launched across all food categories in the US. At this rate, 2010 should be the biggest year ever in terms of total whole grain product launches.”

Since 2005, the whole grain product claim has consistently been in the top 20 among all food and beverage claims according to Mintel. Furthermore, the share of all products with whole grain claims has gone up consistently since that time. In 2005, just 2.3% of all new product launches had a whole grain claim, whereas in 2010, this has grown to 5.6%.

An increasingly familiar logo to consumers comes from the Whole Grains Council. Currently, the Council has its Whole Grain Stamp on over 4,400 products in the US and 20 other countries. “Our Stamp was designed to be a tool for consumers and we love that it’s being put to use and to the test,” says Kara Berrini, program manager for the Whole Grains Council.

SPINS, an information provider tracking natural, organic and specialty gourmet sales data within natural and conventional retail outlets, also captures sales of products with the Whole Grain Stamp. The company notes that combined channel sales of naturally positioned dry grocery products with the Stamp grew 16% for the 12 week period ending August 7, 2010, versus a year ago. “In fact, substantial sales growth is due primarily to performance of Whole Grains Council–certified natural bread and baked goods (up 221%); salty/savory snacks (up 133%) and energy bars (up 76%),” says Mary Ellen Lynch, director of consumer insights at SPINS.

Indeed, the bread market in particular has benefitted from the Whole Grains Council Stamp. SPINS reports that sales of natural bread loaves bearing the Stamp increased 172% (up $7.4 million) in the 12 week period ending August 7, 2010, versus a year ago. And consumers clearly place a great deal of importance on the symbol. According to Mintel’s 2009 bread report, whole grains are the second most influential factor in a bread purchase after price only.

Looking ahead, David Browne notes, “While sales of these products are still small, there are a lot of good signs for the whole grain market. Nearly 6% of all food products and 18% of all-natural food products launched in 2010 have the whole grain claim. Innovations in unexpected places, including beverages and dairy products, will also drive sales.”

About Mintel

Mintel is a leading global supplier of consumer, product and media intelligence. For more than 38 years, Mintel has provided insight into key worldwide trends, offering unique data that directly impacts client success. With offices in Chicago, London, Belfast, Sydney, Shanghai and Tokyo, Mintel has forged a unique reputation as a world-renowned business brand. For more information on Mintel, please visit www.mintel.com. Follow Mintel on Twitter: http://twitter.com/mintelnews

About SPINS

SPINS is the first company to offer natural products sales data to the industry. Established in 1995, SPINS is now the premier provider of retail measurement services, content-based reporting, consumer information and consulting services for this rapidly expanding sector. All of SPINS’ services leverage its comprehensive Product Library, the most complete and up-to-date resource of its kind in the Industry. SPINS’ Product Library includes information for 575 primary ingredients, over 80 health concerns and key Natural Products industry certifications such Whole Grain Certified, Non GMO and Fair Trade.

SOURCE Mintel

http://www.mintel.com

A Host of Whole Grain Products Driving Sector’s Growth | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

A study released Tuesday by the Trust for America’s Health and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation shows that obesity rates increased in 28 states last year. Mississippi continued its six-year reign as the country’s fattest state in the study’s yearly rankings, along with the highest rates of physical inactivity and hypertension. The state also has the second highest rate of diabetes.

And while most parents think childhood obesity is a problem, they don’t believe it affects their own children.

The annual obesity report by two public health groups includes a new survey of parental attitudes about the issue. The survey shows an increasing awareness of obesity and its threat to public health.

“This report shows that the country has taken bold steps to address the obesity crisis in recent years, but the nation’s response has yet to fully match the magnitude of the problem,” said Jeffrey Levi, executive director of the Trust for America’s Health, which writes the annual report with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The new survey finds that 84 percent of parents believe their children are at a healthy weight, even though nearly a third of children and teens are considered obese or overweight. Still, 80 percent of those polled by Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research and American Viewpoint said childhood obesity is a significant and growing problem.

Obesity in adults is defined as a body mass index of 30 or more, while overweight is a body mass index between 25 and 30.

Last year, four states — Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee and West Virginia — had obesity rates of over 30 percent. This year, four more states have that distinction, bringing the total to eight states with rates over 30 percent. Those states were Louisiana, Kentucky, Oklahoma and Arkansas.

The District of Columbia was the only area to see a decline in adult obesity rates.

The rise in obesity rates has been sharp in the last 20 years. More than two-thirds of states now have adult obesity rates above 25 percent. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent.

The report also details racial disparities in obesity, showing that obesity rates for blacks and Latinos were higher than for whites in 40 states and the District of Columbia.

Americans are still getting fatter, report finds | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

(CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — Twinkies. Fat slob. Gordita.

It didn’t stop with the nicknames.

“Eat only half.” “Stop eating so much.”

For Claudia Garza, these taunts didn’t come from schoolyard peers — they came from her family.

Obese children are 65 percent more likely to be bullied than their peers of normal weight, according to a study published in Pediatrics this month. But teasing about weight is not confined to schools– it can also occur within the home, according to childhood obesity experts.

Major public health efforts are under way to lower childhood obesity rates as one in three U.S. children and teenagers are estimated to be obese or overweight. First lady Michelle Obama is leading a campaign to reduce childhood obesity from nearly 20 percent to 5 percent by 2030.

Families often have good intentions to help their children, but some may end up inflicting psychological harm through misguided efforts to help children lose weight, experts said.

“If there’s criticizing among family members, emphasis on dieting, putting people down, kids internalize that,” said Mandy Perryman, program coordinator for counselor education at Lynchburg College in Lynchburg, Virginia.

A 2006 study published in Obesity found that 72 percent of nearly 2,500 overweight and obese women had been stigmatized by family members because of their weight.

Garza, an iReport contributor, started gaining weight at the age of 6. Stressed from learning to speak English and adjusting to a new community after moving to a suburb of Los Angeles, California, she found comfort in sweets — Popsicles, cookies and ice cream.

“My mom would buy junk food, I would eat the entire thing in one sitting,” Garza recalled. “It wouldn’t last a week. I’d eat it the same day she’d buy it. I constantly ate.”

View Garza’s My Childhood Obesity iReport

By the time she was 10, she weighed 140 pounds and barely fit into her class desk — her stomach rubbed against the table when she sat.

While arguing with her older brother, their childish disagreements turned into insults directed at her: “You’re fat. You’re always going to be fat.”

Everyone in her family, grandparents, uncles, cousins, called her “Gordita,” Spanish for fatty.

It’s common in Hispanic families to have endearing nicknames for each other, Garza said.

“It’s supposed to be a loving thing,” she said. “At that age, it didn’t seem like it.”

During dinnertime, her father would gesture at her from across the table, signaling her to only eat half of what was served. This happened at every family meal, giving her brother more verbal ammunition.

Victimization comes in many forms, said Rebecca Puhl, the director of Research and Weight Stigma Initiatives at the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity at Yale University.

Rudd Center on weight stigma at home and school

“We associate bullying with overt forms of teasing or aggression. It can occur in subtle ways, it can be just as damaging,” she said.

Still hungry after dinner, Garza would binge on candy bars and sweets stashed in her bedroom. The junk food wasn’t too hard to find.

“I think probably one of the biggest ironies was that even though my parents would say, ‘Don’t eat this or that,’ they’d have junk food in the house,” she said.

Depressed about the constant scolding about their weight, many children cope “by eating more food and binge eating,” said Puhl, a research scientist. “What we need to recognize is stigma is a serious form of stress. For children who are overweight, it’s a chronic stresser.”

If parents want their children to lose weight, they need to model the behavior they want to see in their children, several obesity experts said.

“Parents are responsible for their emotional wellness,” said Perryman, who researches family dynamics related to childhood obesity. “Kids aren’t in charge of their own food intake, their sedentary behaviors. They can’t sign themselves up for soccer.”

Obese kids more vulnerable to bullies

The best way to help overweight kids is through family interventions — eating healthier together and having outings to promote physical activity. There is a common misconception that if children are teased, that will motivate the individuals to lose weight.

“We see the opposite is true,” Puhl said. “For both children and adults, they’re more likely to engage in avoidance of physical activity.”

Constantly admonished to lose weight, Garza said it destroyed her young self-esteem. She described herself as a “loner” at school, and other kids pointed and giggled at her.

But Garza, now 29, said being teased at home stung much more.

“Trying to scare kids into losing weight can do more harm than good,” Perryman warned. “Kids develop depression, anxiety, eating disorders, body image disturbance.”

National Institute of Health’s tips for childhood weight loss

Her family insisted they were doing this for her own good, but Garza believes it was destructive.

“After hearing it every single day, you start believing it — that you are fat, you are ugly, you are a slob, you’re not good enough,” she said.

Garza resorted to starving herself and exercising strenuously until she lost 60 pounds in high school. Her weight fluctuated as she went through various crash diets, anorexia and drugs.

Five years ago, she stopped using drugs. Garza started reading self-help books and became involved in church. Part of it was also growing up and releasing her anger, she said.

Garza also exercises regularly as a way to relieve stress from long days at the office — spending one hour lifting weights and another hour on cardio. She is now a certified spin instructor and wants to become a fitness model.

“I never thought I’d be where I am at,” Garza said. “It’s been such a long process. I’ve come to terms regardless of where my weight is. It’s how you feel, not the number on a scale.”

Although they hardly discuss it now, Garza said she’s at peace with her family.

They meant well, she said.

When good intentions turn to disparaging obese children | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

WASHINGTON – Women could help reduce childhood obesity by maintaining a healthy weight when they become pregnant and by breast-feeding their babies, a government panel has found.

The suggestions were among 70 recommendations in the panel’s report. First lady Michelle Obama released the findings Tuesday as part of her campaign against childhood obesity.

“For the first time, the nation will have goals, benchmarks and measureable outcomes that will help us tackle the childhood obesity epidemic one child, one family and one community at a time,” Mrs. Obama said. “We want to marshal every resource — public and private sector, mayors and governors, parents and educators, business owners and health care providers, coaches and athletes — to ensure that we are providing each and every child the happy, healthy future they deserve.”

One in 3 American children is overweight or obese, putting them at higher risk of diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other illnesses. Obesity is even more prevalent among black and Hispanic children. Some public health experts say today’s children are on track to live shorter lives than their parents.

First lady offers 70 goals to fight child obesity | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Face Barriers to Eating Better, Moving More

Community, clinical settings can help encourage healthy changes

EAGAN, Minn., May 6 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — A new report released today by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) reveals new insights about Minnesota’s obesity problem among adults and obesity’s two preventable causes: physical inactivity and unhealthy eating. The report, “Physical Activity and Healthy Eating in Minnesota: Addressing Root Causes of Obesity,” concludes that Minnesotans know they need to lose weight and many are trying, but individual attitudes and their surroundings are barriers to their success. The report offers hope, that by intervening in a variety of ways and in multiple settings – where people live, work and play – it will be easier for people to make the healthy choice and lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

The new report found that more than 60 percent of Minnesota adults are overweight or obese. This puts the majority of adults in Minnesota – about 2.2 million people – at increased risk for high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis and colon cancer. Treating obesity-related disease and illness takes a tremendous toll on our quality of life and our pocketbooks. According to a recent national report, medical costs for obese individuals are 42 percent higher than medical costs for normal weight individuals – an annual difference of $1,429. In Minnesota, today’s total annual obesity-related health care costs are estimated at more than $1.3 billion according to a 2004 study. And Blue Cross found this amount could increase to more than $5 billion annually by 2020 if left unchecked.  

“Weight is killing us. It’s making people sick and it’s costing us all,” said Dr. Marc Manley, Chief Prevention Officer at Blue Cross. “We can stop this epidemic and help Minnesotans manage their current weight and prevent future weight gain by approaching it from all angles – working with individuals, businesses and communities – to encourage moving more and eating better. It’s clear the healthy choice must be the easy choice in our state.”

Key report findings include:

• A majority of overweight and obese Minnesotans are trying to lose weight. Nearly 70 percent of obese adults and 53 percent of overweight adults are trying to lose weight, yet still one-third (31 percent) of all adults fail to meet federal recommendations for physical activity. Of those Minnesotans who don’t meet recommended physical activity guidelines, 57 percent say they want to add more walking – the easiest and most accessible form of activity – to their lifestyle.  
• Most Minnesotans don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables. Only 15 percent of adults eat their recommended daily amount of fruits and vegetables, compared to 58 percent who report eating pastries or other sweets on a daily basis. Nearly all adults (99 percent) agree that fruits and vegetables make an important difference to health, but only one in four (24 percent) know the daily recommended amount.
• Minnesota workplaces can help employees move more and eat better.  Two-thirds (66 percent) of adult Minnesotans are employed in sedentary jobs, yet fewer than half of all workers have places to be active at work or employers that encourage or provide incentives to be physically active. Additionally, less than one in four have access to low or reasonably priced fruits and vegetables via on-site food service (24 percent) or at all through vending machines (11 percent).
• Most Minnesotans want their communities designed to help people be more active. Nearly all adults (90 percent) believe that how a community is built has a big effect on how much physical activity individuals get, yet less than one third live in neighborhoods or communities with features that encourage physical activity. In addition, 93 percent believe future transportation projects should consider walkers and bicyclers as well as motor vehicles and 72 percent agree laws should require communities to build sidewalks and bike paths.
• Minnesota health care providers have a unique opportunity to actively support and provide weight loss/management resources to patients. About 70 percent of obese or overweight adults report their doctors asked about physical activity levels, and a smaller percent (38 percent of overweight and 56 percent of obese) were asked about their diet. Even less were advised to get more physical activity or eat more fruits and vegetables, and only 5 to 20 percent were assisted with a personal plan or received a recommendation or referral to a physical activity program or gym, a dietician or other class, group or website for help. Furthermore fewer than half of all adult Minnesotans have ever calculated or been told their BMI (body mass index) even though clinical guidelines from the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) recommend health care providers calculate the BMI of all patients.

An additional poll Blue Cross conducted in December, found that parents felt obesity was more of a problem among Minnesota’s children than it was 10 years ago, with fast food, sugar-sweetened beverages, candy or junk food, and the elimination of mandatory physical education in school as the leading contributing factors. The same poll also showed Minnesotans ranked Blue Cross as a highly credible source of information on obesity, with only doctors and dietitians ranked higher.

As a health company, Blue Cross has launched a number of creative initiatives to combat obesity, including:

• Creating the do campaign to encourage people to eat better and move more by grooving their bodies
• Sponsoring Nice Ride Minnesota, a public bicycle-sharing program coming to Minneapolis this summer to make it easier for Minnesotans to be active in their daily lives
  • Funding community projects to improve access to healthy foods in schools and underserved communities
  • Supporting new laws such as Complete Streets, to make communities more walkable and bikeable
  • Providing services on bluecrossmn.com that can help members achieve a healthy weight such as: free online health risk assessments, coaching modules, a BMI calculator, healthy eating plans, discounts on Weight Watchers, biking incentives such as “do-cycle,” a “Walking Works” walking program for employers, and more.

As the state’s lead public health agency, MDH educates the public about the importance of physical activity and nutrition and helps build capacity for local public health to address these issues.

The department’s Statewide Health Improvement Program (SHIP) is helping all 87 counties and eight tribal governments tackle obesity and tobacco use, the two leading causes of preventable death in Minnesota. These communities are working to prevent obesity by increasing opportunities for physical activity and better nutrition in communities, schools, work places and health care organizations. It builds on the Minnesota Plan to Reduce Obesity and Obesity-Related Chronic Diseases, which offers solid, evidence-based solutions for the state, counties and communities to stem the epidemic of obesity.

A copy of the executive summary is available at bluecrossmn.com and the full report is available upon request.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota’s first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.7 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. Each Blue Cross and Blue Shield plan is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

http://www.bluecrossmn.com

Report: Majority of Minnesotans Overweight or Obese | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

(CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM) — In Kuwait, at family gatherings and social events, food is always at the top of the menu.

Friends meet at restaurants two or three times a week and if you don’t want to go out, Western fast food chains like Burger King will deliver tasty, high-fat meals to your front door.

At family occasions, the more opulent the spread the greater the social status conferred. Tables groan under the weight of multi-course banquets laid on by competitive hostesses, often aided by maids.

But, in the oil-rich Gulf state where scorching summers keep people indoors, this appetite for excess is taking its toll. Kuwait is one of the fattest nations on earth — and it is affecting people’s health.

Just over 74 percent of the population is overweight, according to the World Health Organization (WHO) and this “obesity epidemic” is contributing to a rise in heart disease and diabetes.

WHO says around 14 percent of Kuwaitis currently suffer from diabetes and it is on the rise.

“Being overweight and obesity have been gradually increasing for the past 15 years,” Nawal Al Hamad, Head of Nutrition at Kuwait’s Ministry of Health, told CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.

The underlying causes are complex, but an abundance of food and sedentary lifestyles are major factors, according to Hamad.

“In Kuwait incomes are good, food is available and not very expensive, and most importantly people don’t move a lot,” she said.

“Our homes are equipped with the usual advanced technology devices, in addition to the fact that we have helpers at home; even people who are unemployed usually have at least one or two helpers at home,” she added.

Kuwait’s per-capita wealth is one of the highest in the world, while over half the labor force is made up of non-Kuwaitis, according to the CIA World Factbook.

Sami Al Bader is head nutritionist at Gethealthykuwait.com (GHK), a private initiative aimed at helping Kuwaitis to lose weight.

“The figures of overweight people we’ve reached in the last five years are very alarming,” he told CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.

What’s more, GHK has discovered high obesity rates in children.

Just under half of female students are overweight and type-two diabetes — once known as adult-onset diabetes — is now affecting children as young as eight.

Bader said the importance of food at Kuwaiti social functions is contributing to the country’s weight problem.

“The new Kuwaiti psyche is very heavily related to restaurants and eating out,” he told CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.

“At family gatherings food is the number one thing. Every family occasion in Kuwait is like Thanksgiving.

“The more food you present gives you a bit more status, so people are always presenting more food at all the different occasions,” Bader said.

He added that over the past 20 years more Western products have arrived in the country — including Western-style fast food.

“In residential areas there are fast food outlets around your homes,” agrees Hamad. “It is easy to access, whereas when I was young I couldn’t find it in a residential area,” she said.

Home-delivered fast food is popular. Some McDonald’s branches offer office-delivery and Burger King and KFC deliver direct to customers’ front doors.

“The sheer number of delivery trucks competing in traffic jams in Kuwait tells me that the populace of Kuwait is very much enjoying the home delivery revolution,” Sumayyah Meehan, an American journalist who has lived in Kuwait for the past 14 years, told CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM.

Meehan recently succumbed to the temptations of home deliveries.

“This past year I found myself on the brink of obesity. I completely indulged in the fast-food lifestyle prevalent in Kuwait and a great part of that included home delivery,” she said.

Some of the problems Kuwaitis face are down to the hot summers and a lack of alternative activities, according to Meehan.

“There is not much to do in Kuwait besides going shopping and eating out. The scorching hot summers leave most of Kuwait’s populous languishing at home or racing to the nearest air-conditioned mall,” she said.

And the malls — as well as schools and offices — are where GHK hopes to catch Kuwaitis with teams of dieticians who weigh people and give free blood-sugar and cholesterol tests.

GHK is also working with children. The government, represented by the National Committee for the Prevention of Obesity is also putting healthy food into school canteens, encouraging sport and educating pupils about nutrition.

The aim is to get the next generation of Kuwaitis into healthy habits they’ll carry into adulthood.

“It’s difficult to change attitudes towards food when people are over 45 or 50 years of age,” said Hamad.

“That’s why we’re targeting the younger generation. When you start when they are young, maybe they will change.”

Fast food-loving Kuwaitis battle the bulge | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

WASHINGTON, April 29 /CHICAGOPRESSRELEASE.COM/ — A new poll commissioned by the Campaign for Healthy Kids found that 55 percent of likely Philadelphia voters would support taxation equal to 2 cents per ounce on sugar-sweetened beverages if funding was dedicated to support programs to combat childhood obesity.

“Childhood obesity is an epidemic in Philadelphia and across the country,” said Andrew Hysell, Project Director for the Campaign for Healthy Kids.  ”In fact, today’s children could be the first generation in U.S. history to live sicker and die younger than their parents’ generation. The majority of Philadelphia voters support the sugar-sweetened beverage tax as part of a public health policy to combat the childhood obesity epidemic.”  

Obesity in children has steadily risen in recent decades, putting them at risk for serious, even life-threatening diseases that were once only seen in adults, like type 2 diabetes and heart disease. Sugar-sweetened beverages, like soda and sweet teas, are the single largest contributor of calorie intake in Americans’ diets and, with little or no nutritional value, are a major source of empty calories for children.

More than 57 percent of Philadelphia’s kids between 6 and 11 are overweight or obese. In some areas, like Upper North Philadelphia, nearly 70 percent of children are overweight or obese.

“The American Heart Association is pleased to see that a majority of Philadelphians support a tax on sugar-sweetened beverages that dedicates funds to increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables in every neighborhood in Philadelphia.  Sugar- sweetened beverages are the largest source of added sugars in the U.S. diet and added sugars play a key role in the epidemic of childhood obesity,” said Jonathan Kirch, State Advocacy Director of the American Heart Association.

John Weidman, Deputy Executive Director of the Food Trust, also commented on the poll’s findings. “The Food Trust supports policies that make healthy food more accessible as well as those that work to limit the consumption of empty calories.  It’s exciting to see that strong majorities of Philadelphians support these common sense ideas as well.”

The poll found that:

• Almost nine in ten voters (87 percent) express concern about rates of obesity among children in Philadelphia.

• More than six in ten voters (64 percent) strongly support increasing the availability of fresh fruits and vegetables throughout the city and rewarding low-income Philadelphians who purchase fresh fruits and vegetables with food stamps, particularly at farmers markets.

• Among the other suggested methods to reduce the city’s projected $700 million shortfall – like a flat fee for garbage collection, an increase in property taxes, business taxes or a sales tax – a tax on sugar-sweetened beverage was the most popular among Philadelphians surveyed.

About the Campaign for Healthy Kids

The Campaign for Healthy Kids works to advance policies to prevent and reduce childhood obesity in states where the epidemic is most prevalent.  By providing strategic consultation, advocacy support and communications expertise to coalitions working on the ground in the nation’s hardest-hit regions, the Campaign seeks to accomplish real and lasting change for the children affected by this epidemic. Visit www.campaignforhealthykids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Healthy Kids

http://www.campaignforhealthykids.org

More Than Half of Philadelphians Support a Sugar-Sweetened Beverage Tax, New Poll Finds | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Damon T. Arnold, director, Illinois Department of Public Health, today announced Illinois is receiving approximately $3.1 million from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to help reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease smoking in Illinois.

The award is part of $119.5 million going to states as the first of several initiatives that make up the Communities Putting Prevention to Work, a comprehensive prevention and wellness initiative funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).

“Taking preventive health measures can help reduce health care costs and help people live longer, healthier lives,” Dr. Arnold said.  “The Illinois Department of Public Health will use the $3.1 million in federal funding to combat chronic diseases and promote healthy lifestyles through increased use of the Illinois Tobacco Quitline as well as obesity and smoking cessation programs.”

The Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) will issue grants to the following organizations to address the problems of obesity and smoking:

• Illinois Head Start Association to increase nutritional education and awareness among children
• Active Transportation Alliance to increase physical activity levels through implementation of the “Walk Across Illinois” program
• Chambers of commerce to promote workplace wellness programs
• Specific health care systems to promote cessation services

IDPH will also work to increase the number of Illinois residents using the Illinois Tobacco Quitline by reaching out to organizations that traditionally have not used the cessation tool, such as non-English speaking service organizations, disabilities service providers, federally qualified health center clients and faith-based organizations.

To learn more about Communities Putting Prevention to Work, visit cdc.gov/chronicdisease/recovery.

State public health director announces $3.1 million to reduce obesity and smoking in Illinois | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

Obama, in prepared remarks for her address this afternoon to the U.S. Conference of Mayors, said no matter how much she’d read and thought about the problem of obesity among young people, the pertinent statistics “never fail to take my breath away.”

She said nearly one-third of U.S. children now are overweight or obese. She said one-third of today’s children eventually will suffer from diabetes, and, in the African American and Latino communities, the proportion will be almost half.

Obesity, she said, “could now be an even greater threat to America’s health than smoking.” And if the nation stays on its current path, nearly 50 percent of all Americans will be obese in 10 years — “not just overweight, but obese.”

“This isn’t the kind of problem that can be solved in one year, or even one administration,” according to Obama, who is expected to unveil an anti-obesity initiative next month. “But make no mistake about it, this problem can be solved.”

Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley, for whom Obama once worked, is among about 220 mayors attending the conference.

Obama said a host of factors were contributing to the problem, from time-pressed parents with less time to prepare home-cooked meals to kids sitting for hours in front of televisions or playing video games.

She said as a busy working mom she turned too often to pizza or to a drive-through for food, until a nudge from her daughters’ pediatrician, who suggested she modify their diets.

Obama heralded what mayors across the country already are doing to fight fat and promote fitness.

She singled out Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, who challenged residents to lose a million pounds and created a Web site, thiscityisgoingonadiet.com, for people to track their progress and share tips.

“So far, 40,000 people have signed up — and together, they’ve lost more than half a million pounds,” she said. Forty of those pounds lost were Cornett’s, she noted.

Obama said the Arlington, Texas, mayor, who is a physician, gave children pedometers at the end of the school year; in Columbia, Mo., the mayor is building walkways and bikeways; in Bowling Green, Ky., the mayor launched a Web site to encourage exercise, find parks and trail maps and learn about upcoming races; and in Minneapolis, the mayor brought in farmers’ markets to bring fresh produce to underserved areas.

The conference, meeting in the Capital Hilton, runs through Friday.

– Katherine Skiba

Read the original article from Tribune News Services.

Michelle Obama to unveil anti-obesity initiative | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

He is also co-founder of America on the Move, a national weight gain prevention initiative that aims to inspire Americans to make small changes in how much they eat and how much they move to prevent weight gain.

This special commentary, providing health-care professionals with insights into obesity and ways to effectively treat and prevent it, is available to subscribers and non-subscribers of the Journal.

The term “energy gap” was developed to estimate the degree of change in the energy balance point required for success in achieving weight loss, gain or management. The energy gap concept is especially relevant when addressing prevention of excessive weight gain and maintenance of weight loss.

“With the exception of bariatric surgery, there has not been a great deal of success in helping people maintain substantial weight losses,” Hill writes.

“Many people can achieve significant weight losses with our current interventions, but very little of this weight loss seems be maintained by most people over the long term. The energy gap can help estimate the degree of behavior change that must be maintained to maintain a given amount of weight loss for any individual.”

The commentary also points out the effectiveness of small behavior changes in preventing further weight gain in those who are already overweight or obese or preventing people from becoming overweight or obese.

Evidence suggests that small changes, such as eating 100 less calories per day, are easy to achieve and sustain for most people.

“[While] restoring normal body weights among those already obese would likely require more dramatic intervention, including pharmacological and surgical treatment,” Hill writes, “a small-changes approach must be included in public health strategies and public policies to address obesity.”

The Journal of the American Dietetic Association is the official research publication of the American Dietetic Association and is the premier peer-reviewed journal in the field of nutrition and dietetics.

Conclusions of research studies do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the American Dietetic Association, and ADA does not assume responsibility for opinions expressed by authors of Journal articles.

About the American Dietetic Association

The American Dietetic Association is the world’s largest organization of food and nutrition professionals. ADA is committed to improving the nation’s health and advancing the profession of dietetics through research, education and advocacy.

Visit the American Dietetic Association at eatright.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Jennifer Starkey, 800-877-1600, Ext. 4802
media@eatright.org

November Journal of the American Dietetic Association Addresses Obesity via the “Energy Gap” | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The program will reach 36 million youth in 60,000 elementary, middle and high schools during the 2009/2010 school year.

The youth-led program empowers children and teens to take charge of their health and work with school leaders to create more opportunities for 60 minutes of daily physical activity and to make more healthy foods available, such as low-fat and fat-free dairy foods, fruits, vegetables and whole grains.

Since more than 50 percent of a student’s daily calories are consumed at school, the school environment is an ideal setting for teaching these healthy behaviors so they become lifelong habits.(1)

“NFL is a proud partner of Fuel Up to Play 60. It is an important component of our overall NFL Play 60 campaign,” says NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. “Our goal is to raise awareness about the importance of staying fit and eating right, especially for America’s young people. This partnership is a powerful alliance to address childhood obesity and emphasize the role of daily physical activity in a healthy lifestyle.”

“National Dairy Council is honored to work together with the NFL on Fuel Up to Play 60,” said Thomas P. Gallagher, chief executive officer of Dairy Management Inc., the managing organization for National Dairy Council. “Child nutrition, particularly in schools, has been a cornerstone of National Dairy Council for nearly a century. This program centers on youth taking the lead in changing the school environment through increasing opportunities for eating healthier and getting more physical activity.”

How the Fuel Up to Play 60 Works

Schools and youth enroll for the program at FuelUpToPlay60.com.

Youth log on to the Web site and pledge to eat healthier and be more physically active; track their daily healthy behaviors; and earn points to win great prizes.

Enrolled schools receive a Fuel Up to Play 60 School Wellness Kit with in-school promotional materials and recommended healthy eating and physical activity strategies that youth teams can implement at their schools.

Student leadership ensures that new food and play opportunities will work in their unique school environments and keep youth at the top of their game.

The Fuel Up to Play 60 nationwide competition rounds out the program and is built on student-led participation, both individual and in school.

The competition culminates in April 2010 with the awarding of one national school and one individual youth winner.

Right Program, Right Place, Right Time

Fuel Up to Play 60 is a pro-active response to the growing obesity epidemic and declining physical fitness of America’s youth.

The program is designed to help reverse the trend toward increased weight and sedentary lifestyles among America’s children. Nearly 32 percent of all children and adolescents, approximately 23 million kids, are now overweight or obese.

Over the past 30 years, this trend has assumed epidemic proportions, with the proportion of overweight children aged 6 to 11 years growing from 6.5 percent to 17.0 percent, and rates among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years jumping from 5.0 percent to 17.6 percent.

These climbing obesity rates increase children’s risk for diet-related chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

Research shows that most American children are overfed and undernourished.

While most consume more calories than recommended by the USDA’s Dietary Guidelines for Americans, only 2 percent of school-aged children consume the recommended daily number of servings from all major food groups.(7) And 62 percent of children aged 9 to 13 years do not participate in any organized physical activity during their non-school hours.

Almost 23 percent do not engage in any free-time physical activity at all.

Fuel Up to Play 60 builds upon existing NFL and NDC programs, including NFL PLAY 60: The NFL Movement for an Active Generation, which encourages kids and their families to “get up and play an hour a day.”

Fuel Up to Play 60 is based on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, which recommends consumption of nutrient-rich foods (such as low-fat and fat-free dairy, fruits, vegetables and whole grains) and 60 minutes of physical activity a day.

In September, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) discussed a plan to develop a Memorandum of Understanding between USDA, the NFL and DMI to allow USDA programs and Fuel Up to Play 60 to collaborate and collectively tackle the critical issue of children’s health.

More information about Fuel Up to Play 60 is available at FuelUpToPlay60.com.

About National Dairy Council

National Dairy Council® (NDC) is the nutrition research, education and communications arm of Dairy Management Inc.

On behalf of U.S. dairy farmers, NDC provides science-based nutrition information to, and in collaboration with, a variety of stakeholders committed to fostering a healthier society, including health professionals, educators, school nutrition directors, academia, industry, consumers and media.

Established in 1915, NDC is dedicated to educating the public on the health benefits of consuming milk and milk products throughout a person’s lifespan.

For more information, visit nationaldairycouncil.org.

About NFL PLAY 60

Designed to tackle childhood obesity, NFL PLAY 60 brings together the NFL’s long-standing commitment to health and fitness with partner organizations like the National Dairy Council.

NFL’s PLAY 60 is also implemented locally, as part of the NFL’s in-school, after-school and team-based programs.

For more information, visit NFLRush.com.

MEDIA CONTACT:

NDC Media Hotline, 312-240-2880
ndc@dairyinfo.com

NFL, National Dairy Council Launch “Fuel Up to Play 60″ Program to Tackle Childhood Obesity | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.

The rate of obese adults remained consistent in the state in the past year. Adult obesity rates increased in 23 states and did not decrease in a single state in the past year, according to the F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies Are Failing in America 2009. In addition, the percentage of obese and overweight children is at or above 30 percent in 30 states.

“Our health care costs have grown along with our waist lines,” said Jeff Levi, Ph.D., executive director of TFAH. “The obesity epidemic is a big contributor to the skyrocketing health care costs in the United States. How are we going to compete with the rest of the world if our economy and workforce are weighed down by bad health?”

Mississippi had the highest rate of adult obesity at 32.5 percent, making it the fifth year in a row that the state topped the list. Four states now have rates above 30 percent, including Mississippi, Alabama (31.2 percent), West Virginia (31.1 percent) and Tennessee (30.2 percent). Eight of the 10 states with the highest percentage of obese adults are in the South. Colorado continued to have the lowest percentage of obese adults at 18.9 percent.

Adult obesity rates now exceed 25 percent in 31 states and exceed 20 percent in 49 states and Washington, D.C. Two-thirds of American adults are either obese or overweight. In 1991, no state had an obesity rate above 20 percent. In 1980, the national average for adult obesity was 15 percent. Sixteen states experienced an increase for the second year in a row, and 11 states experienced an increase for the third straight year.

Mississippi also had the highest rate of obese and overweight children (ages 10 to 17) at 44.4 percent. Minnesota and Utah had the lowest rate at 23.1 percent. Eight of the 10 states with the highest rates of obese and overweight children are in the South. Childhood obesity rates have more than tripled since 1980.

“Reversing the childhood obesity epidemic is a critical ingredient for delivering a healthier population and making health reform work,” said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, M.D., M.B.A., RWJF president and CEO. “If we can prevent the current generation of young people from developing the serious and costly chronic conditions related to obesity, we can not only improve health and quality of life, but we can also save billions of dollars and make our health care systems more efficient and sustainable.”

The F as in Fat report contains rankings of state obesity rates and a review of federal and state government policies aimed at reducing or preventing obesity. Some additional key findings from F as in Fat 2009 include:

• The current economic crisis could exacerbate the obesity epidemic. Food prices, particularly for more nutritious foods, are expected to rise, making it more difficult for families to eat healthy foods. At the same time, safety-net programs and services are becoming increasingly overextended as the numbers of unemployed, uninsured and underinsured continue to grow. In addition, due to the strain of the recession, rates of depression, anxiety and stress, which are linked to obesity for many individuals, also are increasing.
• Nineteen states now have nutritional standards for school lunches, breakfasts and snacks that are stricter than current USDA requirements. Illinois is one of the states that does not have these standards. Five years ago, only four states had legislation requiring stricter standards.
• Twenty-seven states have nutritional standards for competitive foods sold a la carte, in vending machines, in school stores or in school bake sales. Illinois is one of the states that does have these standards. Five years ago, only six states had nutritional standards for competitive foods.
• Twenty states have passed requirements for body mass index (BMI) screenings of children and adolescents or have passed legislation requiring other forms of weight-related assessments in schools. Illinois is one of the states that does have one of these screening programs. Five years ago, only four states had passed screening requirements.
• A recent analysis commissioned by TFAH found that the Baby Boomer generation has a higher rate of obesity compared with previous generations. As the Baby Boomer generation ages, obesity-related costs to Medicare and Medicaid are likely to grow significantly because of the large number of people in this population and its high rate of obesity. And, as Baby Boomers become Medicare-eligible, the percentage of obese adults age 65 and older could increase significantly. Estimates of the increase in percentage of obese adults range from 5.2 percent in New York to 16.3 percent in Alabama.

Key report recommendations for addressing obesity within health reform include:

• Ensuring every adult and child has access to coverage for preventive medical services, including nutrition and obesity counseling and screening for obesity-related diseases, such as type 2 diabetes;
• Increasing the number of programs available in communities, schools, and childcare settings that help make nutritious foods more affordable and accessible and provide safe and healthy places for people to engage in physical activity; and
• Reducing Medicare expenditures by promoting proven programs that improve nutrition and increase physical activity among adults ages 55 to 64.

The report also calls for a National Strategy to Combat Obesity that would define roles and responsibilities for federal, state and local governments and promote collaboration among businesses, communities, schools and families. It would seek to advance policies that

• Provide healthy foods and beverages to students at schools;
• Increase the availability of affordable healthy foods in all communities;
• Increase the frequency, intensity, and duration of physical activity at school;
• Improve access to safe and healthy places to live, work, learn, and play;
• Limit screen time; and
• Encourage employers to provide workplace wellness programs.

The report was supported by a grant from RWJF.

MEDIA CONTACT:

Liz Richardson, 202-223-9870 x 21
lrichardson@tfah.org

Laura Segal, 202-223-9870 x 27
lsegal@tfah.org

Report Finds Illinois Has 27th Highest Percent of Obese Adults and 10th Highest Percent of Obese and Overweight Children in the U.S. | Chicago Press Release Services - Chicago's leading press release newswire service; professional press release services, press release distribution and newswire services.