ED's notes, The

Alabama Nurse,  Jun-Aug 2004  by Wilson, Helen

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This morning's email contained a timely message from Health and Human Services (HHS) secretary Tommy G. Thompson outlining steps to "Build a Healthier Nation." If you read or listen to the news you are probably aware that secretary Thompson is not the only one concerned about the overall health of the American people. Alabama is one of the leaders in numbers of overweight and unfit people. This is not a coveted position. In 1991 13.2% of Alabama adults were classified as obese. In 2000 that percentage rose to 23,5% and today one in every four Alabama adults is classified as obese. Not just overweight, but obese. Obesity is defined as having a body mass index greater than or equal to 30 (approximately 30 pounds) over weight.

Nurses should be leading the fight, to eliminate this problem. Nurses should be role models for healthy lifestyles not one of the statistics. Nurses should take advantage of every opportunity to educate people on this deadly epidemic.

The escalating cost of health care along with the frightening increase in cases of diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, respiratory problems, etc. should convince you that we have a problem. But in case you need a bit more convincing that Alabama has a major health problem: Some 63% of Alabama's school age children are overweight with 13-15% of those classified as obese. We have "super sized" ourselves into an obesity epidemic.

The incidents of hypertension in elementary school children has risen dramatically in the past few years. More and more school age children are unable to pass the Federal Physical Fitness Test. In the last five years there has been a ten-fold increase in the number of children diagnosed with adult-onset diabetes.

The economic costs of obesity are staggering. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the costs of obesity now exceeds those of tobacco use. In a report published by CDC it was reported that health related cost for obesity was above $117 billion annually in this country. Greater than 6.5% of Alabamians health care dollars are spent on obesity and obesity related problems.

Alabama State Nurses Association was asked to be a charter member of the State Obesity Task Force. This Task Force met to develop a plan of action for the State of Alabama in the fight against obesity.

This country is considered one of the richest and most powerful in the world, yet poor nutrition and/or physical inactivity, which are the primary causes of obesity, is certainly weakening our people.

Nurses, this is an epidemic and as such it must become a very important health concern for all of us. Lets start with us. Let's get healthy. Let's get our families healthy. Then let's work on our communities. Let's start a wellness epidemic.

by Helen Wilson, MSN, RN

Copyright Alabama State Nurses' Association Jun-Aug 2004
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