In an effort to educate New Jerseyans on a complex disorder that affects more than a quarter of the state’s adult population, the Assembly Health and Senior Services Committee cleared a joint resolution (AJR160) on December 5th, 2019 designating the second week in October as “Obesity Care Week.”
“Obesity affects so much more than self-esteem, it can raise your risk for devel- oping many other health conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension and some cancers,” said the resolution’s sponsor, David Wolfe (R-Ocean). “Obviously we can’t just quit food, but we can learn how to develop a healthier relationship with food so that we can lead fuller, longer lives.”
Approximately 40 percent of adults in the United States are considered obese, which is defined as having a body mass index of 30.0 or higher. About 13.7 mil- lion children and adolescents in the nation are affected by obesity.
“Obesity needs to be taken just as seriously as other chronic diseases. People need to be met with compassion, not bias, and need to be equipped with the tools that will help them change their lifestyles,” said Wolfe.
Research suggests that weight loss of as little as five to ten percent of a person’s total weight can improve obesity’s associated health risks.
In addition to creating awareness of the increasing prevalence of obesity, the resolution encourages healthcare professionals to work with patients to con- sider all treatment options and develop comprehensive, individualized approaches to weight loss and weight management.