Research team tackles the growing problem of obesity
at the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies

Evidence of America's obesity problem is everywhere: from increases in the sizes of coffins and clothes, to volumes of new diets and surgical procedures. There is now even a patent for a car system that will weigh dieters and alarm them when they've strayed.

The boom in obesity began in the late 1970s. Since then, the percentage of adults who are obese has doubled. It has tripled among children. Between 1980 and 2000, the percentage of obese adults grew from 14 percent to 30 percent while the percentage of overweight children rose from 5 percent to 14 percent.

Last March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicted that if current trends continue, by 2005 obesity will overtake smoking as the leading cause of preventable death in the United States.

A team of economic and health policy researchers at AYSPS are studying the rapid acceleration in the obesity rate in the United States. Their goal is to find policy solutions that will address the causes of this serious epidemic.

Inas Rashad, an assistant professor of economics whose primary research interest is obesity, has found the direct and indirect causes of this epidemic are widely varied. Genetics, declining physical activity and increasing consumption of unhealthy foods are some direct causes. Indirect causes include the higher percentage of working mothers, lower food costs, rapid growth of the restaurant industry, and increases in cigarette taxes and prices that have subsequently decreased the number of smokers.

GHPC researcher Mary Ann Phillips says the best way to address childhood obesity is through school, community and family interventions that change nutrition and physical activity patterns. Rashad underscores the importance of such inter ventions. "Overweight children are extremely likely to become obese adults," she says.

GHPC is working to reduce the incidence of childhood obesity in partnership with the Philanthropic Collaborative for a Healthy Georgia, a consortium of foundations with a shared interest in improving health throughout the state. ("GHPC supports unique healthcare collaborative," The Briefing, Spring/Summer 2004)

The center is also working to improve public health programs aimed at obesity prevention. GHPC was recently asked by Georgia's Division of Public Health to help implement the CDC Grant for Obesity Prevention and Control in Georgia. The grant funds a statewide assessment of current nutrition and physical activity programs and training needs related to obesity prevention. "Our findings will help Georgia's public health officials implement best practices in nutrition and physical education programs throughout the state," says Phillips.

In addition to their work with public health officials and community leaders to tackle Georgia's obesity epidemic, Rashad and Phillips are exploring opportunities for federal and foundation funding to support research and programs that will further address Georgia's obesity problem.

– Sallie Barker, GHPC

For more on the GHPC, see the story HRSA grant to help GHPC help the uninsured.