January 30, 2012

Working off the momentum the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease gained last year, one of our focal points for 2012 will continue to be on finding and promoting ways to achieve better health outcomes for the chronically ill.  Obesity alone – which doubled between 1987 and today – accounts for 20 to 30 percent of the rise in health care spending and contributes heavily to the development of preventable chronic diseases such as diabetes and heart disease. With that in mind, we are encouraged by new data released this month from the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, which shows that the adult obesity rate in the United States declined slightly in 2011. 

The 2011 data were comprised of a survey of more than 300,000 American adults who were asked to give a self-report of their height and weight.  From there, the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index calculates body mass index (BMI) scores and places them into pre-determined categories of “obese,” “overweight” and “normal weight.”

Every little bit counts.  Even small improvements in health outcomes can translate into large savings when it comes to soaring health care costs.  As the data show, we’re making progress, which is why now more than ever we can’t afford to diminish our focus or investment in chronic disease prevention and management.