CHEVY CHASE, Md., Feb. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Congressional leaders heard directly from the country's leading medical experts and Congressional Staff in a public dialogue that addressed obesity from both medical and behavioral perspectives. Titled, "Childhood Obesity 101 - Combating a National Epidemic," the briefing was co-hosted by The Endocrine Society and U.S. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist's Office. The program aimed to educate Congressional leaders about obesity research, prevention, and treatment and encouraged congressional action to combat this epidemic.
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Attendees heard from James O. Hill, Ph.D., Director of the Center for Human Nutrition in Denver, Colorado a nutrition center funded by the National Institutes of Health; Michael Jensen, M.D., Chair/Director of the Obesity Treatment Clinic at Mayo Clinic and a representative from Sen. Frist's office.
In his opening remarks, Leonard Wartofsky, M.D., President-Elect for the Society and Chairman of the Department of Medicine at the Washington Hospital Center, said, "We want to focus the attention of legislators on the importance of treating patients, particularly among children and adolescents, who are overweight or obese because of metabolic and hormonal problems." Dr. Wartofsky further elaborated that, "Across the nation more and more children are becoming overweight or obese, and we are increasingly finding children with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and joint damage, all health problems that were once seen only in adults. It is vitally important that we find appropriate solutions now."
During the briefing, Dr. Hill offered his perspective as an obesity expert, emphasizing the importance of improved nutrition and physical activity. "Traditionally our approach to weight management has been diet and exercise," Dr. Hill said, "however, it's time to take it one step further and support Americans as they try to build healthy lifestyles by making sure that they have access to healthy foods and opportunities to be physically active at home, school, and work."
Dr. Jensen, also a Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic of Rochester, discussed the science behind obesity, "It is true that behavior modifications are important to combat obesity," Dr. Jensen explained. "However, in some circumstances, children have underlying medical conditions, including metabolic and endocrine-related complications that affect their weight or are affected by their weight." His talk further emphasized the dramatic toll obesity is having on our pediatric population and the need for more research.
The Congressional Aide discussed two pieces of legislation, introduced by Sen. Frist's Office in June 2005, the Improved Nutrition and Physical Activity (IMPACT) Act (S. 1325) and the Childhood Obesity Reduction Act (S. 1324). Both measures contain multifaceted approaches to tackle obesity. The Endocrine Society is an official supporter of both pieces of legislation. The Society reviewed the legislation and offered Sen. Frist modifications to enhance the measures as they move through congressional procedures.
"The all too common incidence of childhood obesity and the obstacles faced in successfully achieving lifestyle change should serve as a wake-up call to the medical community," Dr. Wartofsky continued, "These staggering health trends encourage further research aimed at determining the best methods to control weight and promote healthy lives. In order to combat obesity, it is important that we address it on all fronts: behavioral, nutritional, and metabolic; and we must start with our children."
Founded in 1916, The Endocrine Society is the world's oldest, largest, and most active organization devoted to research on hormones, and the clinical practice of endocrinology. Endocrinologists are specially trained doctors who diagnose, treat and conduct basic and clinical research on complex hormonal disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disease, osteoporosis, obesity, hypertension, cholesterol and reproductive disorders. Today, The Endocrine Society's membership consists of over 13,000 scientists, physicians, educators, nurses and students, in more than 80 countries. Together, these members represent all basic, applied, and clinical interests in endocrinology. The Endocrine Society is based in Chevy Chase, Maryland. To learn more about the Society, and the field of endocrinology, visit the Society's web site at http://www.endo-society.org. To order a copy of The Endocrine Society Weighs In - A Handbook on Obesity America, visit http://www.ObesityinAmerica.org.
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