Norton Bill Pushes Lifestyle Changes to Defeat Obesity, Necessary for Health Care Reform (1/13/2010)

Norton Bill Pushes Lifestyle Changes to Defeat Obesity as Necessary for Health Care Reform

January 13, 2010

Washington, DC - As President Obama meets with House and Senate leaders today to help perfect the final health care reform bill, Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton (D-DC) introduced the Lifelong Improvements in Food and Exercise (LIFE) Act to promote exercise and diet changes for better health, and particularly to lower obesity rates, one of the most widespread health concerns in the country. "If we are serious about health care, we must start where our most serious health conditions begin by combating the epidemic of obesity," Norton said in the opening statement of her LIFE bill. Reducing obesity has been a major priority for the Congresswoman because the District leads many jurisdictions in conditions related to obesity, such as Type A diabetes, cancer, high blood pressure, and heart disease. Adult obesity rates have doubled since 1980, from 15 percent to 30 percent.

Norton's LIFE bill directs the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to combat obesity and sedentary lifestyles in three ways: by conducting education campaigns to teach the public how to recognize and address overweight and obesity; by training health professionals to recognize the signs of obesity early and educate people concerning healthful lifestyle alternatives, such as including proper nutrition and regular exercise; and developing intervention strategies to be used in everyday life. The public education would take place in worksites and community settings. The LIFE bill would provide $25 million in funding to the CDC for this effort, which Norton describes as a minimal down payment that would mostly fund pilot efforts to develop best practices.

Norton, who race walks and lifts weights for exercise, notes that studies show the correlation between good nutrition, exercise and good health. "The health care reform movement must include a much greater focus on individual responsibility for good nutrition and exercise," she said.