Obesity: Public Menace, Health Hype, or Policy Opportunity
A Safe Harbor Forum held on Oct. 11, 2005

	Speakers from left to right: Catherine Henze, Paul Campos, and Robert Murray. Not pictured: David Katz.

Obesity rates in Ohio and the nation continue to rise. Ohio now ranks 13th in the U.S. in regard to its rate of adult obesity, almost 14 percent of Ohio ’s high school students are overweight, and no city in Ohio ranks in the top 2/3 of America ’s most walkable cities.

On October 11, 2005, the Health Policy Institute of Ohio brought together policymakers and stakeholders in a Safe Harbor Health Policy Forum entitled "Obesity: Public Menace, Health Hype, or Policy Opportunity" to explore these statistics, as well as gain insight into the prevailing research on the  issues of obesity, weight, and health. A panel of national and state experts with diverse perspectives on the topic were on hand to present the evidence, discuss possible policy options for lawmakers and policymakers, and engage in candid dialogue with the participants.

Expert panelists included:

• David Katz, MD, MPH, Associate Professor of Public Health at the Yale University School of Medicine, author of The Way to Eat, and Medical Contributor to ABC News, The New York Times, and Oprah Magazine. Dr. Katz maintains that society is blaming the victims for the obesity epidemic and strongly urges policymakers to consider environmental adaptations that encourage exercise.
  
  
• Robert Murray, MD, Professor of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University and Pediatric Medical Director, Ross Division of Abbott Laboratories, shared that by 24 months of age, a child assumes the eating and activity habits of the family. He focused on the snacking habits of children, emphasizing that children are overfed but undernourished, and he encouraged adoption of home, school, and community policies that get kids moving outdoors and reshape their food habits.
  
  
• Paul Campos, JD, Professor of Law, University of Colorado, author of The Obesity Myth: Why America’s Obsession with Weight is Hazardous to Your Health, and contributor to the Wall Street Journal, USA Today, The Boston Globe, and the Rocky Mountain News, challenges many of the findings of the public health community that fuel the obesity myth. He asserts that in almost all large-scale epidemiological studies little or no correlation can be found between weight and health for a large majority of the population – and further, it doesn’t make sense to make obesity a public health goal unless you know how to make fat people thin – which we don’t.
  
  
• Catherine Henze, MPH, Policy Associate for Nutrition, Obesity, and Physical Activity, Health Policy Tracking Service and author of the biweekly Public Health Snapshot, identified for the participants the key obesity-related state policy trends around the country, including school nutrition actions; industry lawsuit liability; access to farmers’ markets; safe walking and bike paths; and snack and soda taxes. Additionally, Katie summarized Ohio obesity actions, including pending legislation addressing school nutritional standards, physical education requirements, and healthy lifestyle curriculums for elementary school children.

A major goal of the Institute is to provide lawmakers, elected officials, health care leaders, and other stakeholders with balanced, non-partisan information about critical health issues. The “ Safe Harbor ” format is designed to explore issues through a “policy prism” in a neutral setting where invitees may ask candid questions and discuss issues and new approaches in a safe, moderated environment.

Response to the Safe Harbor Health Policy Forum on obesity has been overwhelmingly positive. Participants specifically cited the quality of the speakers and the importance of the multiple perspectives that were offered on this controversial topic.

You may access the HPIO Obesity Forum Expert presentations at:

• Robert Murray, MD  (PDF, 4.2 MB)
• Catherine Henze, MPH  (PDF, 1.0 MB)

In addition, the issue brief from the forum, Obesity: The Health Debate and Policy Challenges, is also available.

For more information on health policy forums and other events sponsored by the Institute, please contact Jill Huntley, Director of Special Projects.