One-third of adults are now obese, and children's obesity rates have climbed from 5 to 17 percent in the past 30 years. The causes of the nation's obesity epidemic are multi-factorial, having much more to do with the absence of sidewalks and the limited availability of healthy and affordable foods than a lack of personal responsibility. The broad societal changes that are needed to prevent obesity will inevitably affect activity and eating environments and settings for all ages. Many aspects of the obesity problem have been identified and discussed; however, there has not been complete agreement on what needs to be done to accelerate progress.

Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention reviews previous studies and their recommendations and presents five key recommendations to accelerate meaningful change on a societal level during the next decade. The report suggests recommendations and strategies that, independently, can accelerate progress, but urges a systems approach of many strategies working in concert to maximize progress in accelerating obesity prevention.

The recommendations in Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention include major reforms in access to and opportunities for physical activity; widespread reductions in the availability of unhealthy foods and beverages and increases in access to healthier options at affordable, competitive prices; an overhaul of the messages that surround Americans through marketing and education with respect to physical activity and food consumption; expansion of the obesity prevention support structure provided by health care providers, insurers, and employers; and schools as a major national focal point for obesity prevention. The report calls on all individuals, organizations, agencies, and sectors that do or can influence physical activity and nutrition environments to assess and begin to act on their potential roles as leaders in obesity prevention.

Contents

• THE NATIONAL ACADEMIES
• COMMITTEE ON ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
• Reviewers
• Preface
• Summary
  • THE CRITICAL IMPORTANCE OF OBESITY PREVENTION
  • STUDY APPROACH
  • TAKING A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE TO ACCELERATE PROGRESS
  • RECOMMENDATIONS AND STRATEGIES
• 1. The Vision
  • A SYSTEMS PERSPECTIVE
  • LEVELS OF ENGAGEMENT TO MOBILIZE CHANGE
  • LEADERSHIP
  • THE ISSUE OF RESPONSIBILITY
  • OVERVIEW OF THE REPORT
  • REFERENCES
• 2. Assessing the Current Situation
  • HUMAN AND SOCIETAL CONSEQUENCES OF THE OBESITY EPIDEMIC
  • OBESITY PREVALENCE AND TRENDS
  • CONTRIBUTORY TRENDS
  • ADVANCES DURING THE PAST DECADE AND BARRIERS TO FURTHER PROGRESS
  • TRACKING PROGRESS ON OUTCOMES
  • CONCLUSION
  • REFERENCES
• 3. Goals, Targets, and Strategies for Change
  • GOALS OF OBESITY PREVENTION
  • TARGETS FOR BEHAVIORAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
  • A COMPREHENSIVE AND INTEGRATED APPROACH TO PREVENTING AND ADDRESSING OBESITY
  • A SUCCESSFUL MODEL OF COMPREHENSIVE CHANGE
  • PRACTICAL AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
  • TRACKING PROGRESS IN THE CHANGE PROCESS
  • CONCLUSION
  • REFERENCES
• 4. Study Approach
  • THE COMMITTEE’S GENERAL APPROACH
  • ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS
  • SUMMARY
  • REFERENCE
• 5. Physical Activity Environments
  • RECOMMENDATION 1
  • STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
  • REFERENCES
• 6. Food and Beverage Environments
  • RECOMMENDATION 2
  • STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • Strategy 2-3 Utilize Strong Nutritional Standards for all Foods and Beverages Sold or Provided Through the Government, and Ensure That These Healthy Options Are Available in All Places Frequented by the Public
  • Strategy 2-4 Introduce, Modify, and Utilize Health-Promoting Food and Beverage Retailing and Distribution Policies
  • Strategy 2-5 Broaden the Examination and Development of U.S. Agriculture Policy and Research to Include Implications for the American Diet
  • INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
  • REFERENCES
• 7. Message Environments
  • RECOMMENDATION 3
  • STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
  • REFERENCES
• 8. Health Care and Work Environments
  • RECOMMENDATION 4
  • STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
  • REFERENCES
• 9. School Environments
  • RECOMMENDATION 5
  • STRATEGIES AND ACTIONS FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • INTEGRATION OF STRATEGIES FOR ACCELERATING PROGRESS IN OBESITY PREVENTION
  • REFERENCES
• 10. Answering Questions About Leadership, Prioritization, and Assessment with a Systems Perspective
  • DEFINING LEADERSHIP AND IDENTIFYING LEADERS
  • IMPLEMENTATION
  • PRIORITIES
  • THE PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS AS MOTIVATOR AND CATALYST FOR IMPLEMENTATION
  • ASSESSMENT OF PROGRESS
  • LOOKING TO THE FUTURE: MOVING TO THE NEXT LEVEL OF SYSTEMS ANALYSIS
  • REFERENCES
• A Acronyms and Glossary
• B Methodology: Development of the Committee’s Recommendations
• C The Committee’s Recommendations, Strategies, and Action Steps
• D Workshop and Panel Public Sessions
• E Committee Member Biographical Sketches

This study was supported by Grant No. 61747 between the National Academy of Sciences and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and a grant between the National Academy of Sciences and the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation. Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the organizations or agencies that provided support for this project.

Suggested citation:

IOM (Institute of Medicine). 2012. Accelerating Progress in Obesity Prevention: Solving the Weight of the Nation. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press.

NOTICE: The project that is the subject of this report was approved by the Governing Board of the National Research Council, whose members are drawn from the councils of the National Academy of Sciences, the National Academy of Engineering, and the Institute of Medicine. The members of the committee responsible for the report were chosen for their special competences and with regard for appropriate balance.