Arizona, Childhood Obesity, and

Health Reform

CHILDHOOD OBESITY ON THE RISE 1

In the United States, the Rise in Obesity for 6-19 year olds 1980-2008
prevalence of obesity among
children and adolescents has 25.00%
increased similar to the
prevalence in the adult 20.00%
population.
15.00%
Obesity is affected by genetic, 6-11 year olds
behavioral, and environmental 10.00% 12-19 year olds
factors. Childhood obesity has
both immediate and long-term 5.00%
health impacts. Since, obese
children are more likely than 0.00%
children of normal weight to
1980 2008
become overweight or obese
adults, the health consequences
follow them for a lifetime.
Obesity rates in children have been increasing at a consistent and
high rate. The prevalence of obesity among children aged 6 to 11
Obese youth have increased risk years increased from 6.5% in 1980 to 19.6% in 2008. The
for: prevalence of obesity among adolescents aged 12 to 19 years
 High blood pressure increased from 5.0% to 18.1%.
 High cholesterol
 Bone and Joint Problems
 Sleep Apnea
 Stigmatization and Poor
self-esteem
WAYS TO REDUCE CHILDHOOD OBESITY2
Healthy lifestyle habits, including healthy eating and physical activity, can lower the risk of becoming
obese and developing related diseases. Ways to promote physical activity in youth include:
 Provide time for both structured and unstructured physical activity during school and outside of
school.
 Provide youth with positive feedback and good role models.
 Promote activities that set the basis for a lifetime of activity.

Issue Area, Obesity: Arizona Page 1 of 3

National Coalition on Health Care July 2010
 ARIZONA AND OBESITY
Percentage of Obese Children in Arizona 3
35
30
25
20
15 Percentage of
Obese Children
10
5
0
2003 2005 2007

The prevalence of childhood obesity more than doubled in Arizona between 2003 and 2005 (12.3% to
29.7%). Fortunately, that increase was not duplicated in the interval between 2005 and 2007; however,
the number still increased from 29.7% to 30.6%. 4

Prevalence of Physical Activities Among Adolescents in High School (Grades 9–12)

United States and Arizona, 2009 5
United States (median) Arizona
Active (at least 60 min) ≥ 5 days/wk 44% 46.8%
No Vigorous or Moderate Physical Activity 16.1% 15.6%
Spent ≥ 3hrs watching TV (not for school purposes) 30.8% 33.3%
Spent ≥ 3hrs using computer (not for school purposes) 23.5% 22.1%

This data shows that Arizona teens were above the national average in regard to having 60 minutes of
aerobic activity five or more days a week and below the national average when it came to not getting
any or moderate physical activity. Additionally, Arizona teens were below the average when it came to
spending on average 3 or more hours a day playing video/games, using a computer but slightly above
when it came to time spent watching television (not for school work). 6
RECENT STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS COMBATING OBESITY

STATE REFORM

STATE REFORM

The Patient 1. Posting Nutritional Content:

Protection and - By March 2011, the Secretary of Health and Human Services (HHS) must
Affordable Care publish regulations requiring all chain restaurants, which have 20 or more
Act (ACA)7 - locations operating under the same name, to disclose the nutritional content
Federal of all menu items. ACA requires that all menus disclose the number of
calories for each menu item and include a statement regarding the

Issue Area, Obesity: Arizona Page 2 of 3

National Coalition on Health Care July 2010
 suggested daily caloric intake.
2. Wellness Discounts for Employees
- Starting January 1, 2014, ACA permits group health plans to give reductions
of up to 30% of the cost of premiums to employees who participate in
wellness programs, which includes employees who refrain from smoking,
maintain a healthy weight, and keep their blood pressure and cholesterol
levels low. The Secretary of HHS may expand the reductions to 50%.
3. Prevention and Public Health Fund
- ACA creates a Health Fund to fund preventive and public health initiatives.
On June 18, 2010 HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that "$126
million will support prevention initiatives; the integration of primary care
services into publicly funded community-based behavioral health settings;
obesity prevention and fitness; and tobacco cessation."8
4. Prevention Council
- ACA establishes the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public
Health Council (“The Council”). The Council will coordinate prevention,
wellness, and health promotion practices at the federal level and issue
recommendations to the President and Congress regarding their views on
the most pressing obstacles to reducing sedentary lifestyles and poor
nutrition.

1
CTRS. FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, NATIONAL CENTER FOR CHRONIC DISEASE PREVENTION AND HEALTH PROMOTION Childhood Obesity. 26 June
2009. (June 3, 2010) available at http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/obesity/ (last accessed July 2010).
2
CTRS. FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION, 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans Fact Sheet for Health Professionals on Physical
Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (2008), available at
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/pdf/PA_Fact_Sheet_Children.pdf (last accessed July 2010).
3
NAT'L CONFERENCE OF STATE LEG. Childhood Overweight and Obesity Trends available at http://www.ncsl.org/?tabid=13877 (last accessed
July 2010).
4
Ibid.
5
CTRS. FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION. YOUTH RISK BEHAVIOR SURVEILLANCE — UNITED STATES 2009, Surveillance Summaries (2010) MMWR
2009;59 (No. SS-5) available at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/pdf/ss/ss5905.pdf (last accessed July 2010).
6
Ibid.
7
Unless otherwise noted, the information found in this section is from: MERCEDES VARASTEH DORDESKI, AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION SAVES A POUND
OF CURE: A SUMMARY OF PPACA’S WELLNESS AND PREVENTION REFORMS, (2010), available at
http://www.abanet.org/health/esource/Volume6/09/Dordeski.html (last accessed June 2010).
8
U.S. DEP'T OF HEALTH AND HUMAN RESOURCES, Sebelius Announces New $250 Million Investment to Lay Foundation for Prevention and Public
Health (June 18, 2010), available at http://www.hhs.gov/news/press/2010pres/06/20100618g.html (last accessed June 2010).

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National Coalition on Health Care July 2010