American Heart Association News Release!

Population-based approach needed to reduce obesity in United States

Statement Highlights:
• Population-wide approaches are key for preventing obesity.
• Preventing excess weight gain needs to be easier, more socially acceptable and personally rewarding for the average person.
• A broad range of policy and environmental change strategies must target the spectrum of influences on food access and intake and physical activity.

DALLAS, June 30 — A comprehensive, population-based strategy is needed to reduce the alarming prevalence of obesity in the United States, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.

“Population-Based Prevention of Obesity” recommends an approach that would complement individually-oriented strategies, including clinic-based prevention and treatment programs. According to the statement, a broad range of policy and environmental strategies (at the local, state and federal levels) can help people adopt healthy behaviors, such as being physically active and eating right.

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