why cant we be friends? combating obesity and hunger together!
TRANSCRIPT
Why Can’t We Be Friends? Combating Obesity and Hunger Together!
Closing the Hunger Gap: Nourishing Beyond
Calories September 20, 2013
• Amy Lazarus Yaroch, Ph.D.
About Us
The Center is an Omaha based independent non-profit research organization providing nutrition research, evaluation and partnership
in: childhood obesity prevention, food insecurity, and local food systems
www.centerfornutrition.org www.facebook.com/centerfornutrition
http://twitter.com/GretchenSwanson
Gretchen Swanson Center for Nutrition
Research Areas
Overview
Obesity
Food Insecurity
The Food Insecurity and Obesity Connection
Obesity in the U.S.• Coronary heart disease • Type 2 diabetes • Stroke • Cancers• High blood pressure• High levels of triglycerides • Liver and Gallbladder disease • Sleep apnea • Respiratory disease
Impact on Children
Impact on Children
23 million children/adolescents
Obesity, Adolescents 12-19 Years, US, 1976-20063
Obesity has Changed our Social Norms
Food Insecurity Prevalence, Correlates and Outcomes
Impact on Children
• Under-nutrition• Developmental issues• Cognitive issues• Psychosocial issues• Physical impairments• Poor academic performance
Food Insecurity
Location
Race-Ethnicity
Poverty
EducationFamily Size
Sex
Marital Status
• In 2011 51.1 Million People (14.9%) in Food Insecure Households
• 8.2 Million Children Food Insecure
The Intersect of Hunger and Obesity
Coexistence of Food Insecurity and Obesity
• Poverty• Poor Education• Marital Status• Other Indicators of
Socioeconomic Status
Shared risk factors
• Location• Race/Ethnicity • Non-Hispanic Blacks• Blacks
Common Population Burden
• Food deprivation – overconsumption
• Nutrition deficiencies – weight gain
• Episodic food shortages - increased body fat
Biological Mechanisms
• Limited variety of foods• Low cost high energy
foods• Fewer fruits and
vegetables
Behavioral Mechanisms
Food Insecurity
Food Insecurity
ObesityObesity
MalnutritionMalnutrition
Poor Dietary Quality
Poor Dietary Quality
Hunger and Obesity Movements in Parallel
Obesity and Hunger: Which is more important?
CNN:Global report: Obesity bigger health crisis than hungerObesity is a bigger health crisis globally than hunger, and the leading cause of disabilities around the world…
The Times:Obesity kills more than hunger in march of ‘progress’ Obesity has become a bigger threat to global health than child hunger, according to a major study.
Public Health Daily No: 309:780 THE WORLD’S FAVORITE NEWSPAPER September 5, 2013
VS.
Business Week:The Global Obesity BombIt may seem strange to be worried about too much food when the United Nations suggests that, as the planet’s population continues to expand, about 1 billion people may still be undernourished. Although there are good reasons to think the 1 billion estimate might be exaggerated, it is clear that hundreds of millions do still regularly go to sleep hungry.
Journal of Paradoxical RelationshipsSeptember 2013 Volume 100/ Number 2 ISSN 0025-8215A premier source for the intersection of obesity and hunger.
253 Opportunities to Reduce Childhood Hunger and ObesityRestructuring the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (the Food Stamp Program) David S. Ludwig, MD, PhD; Susan J. Blumenthal, MD, MPA; Walter C. Willett, MD, DrPH JAMA. 2012;308(24):2567-2568. doi:10.1001/jama.2012.45420
First Foods Most: After 18 Hour Fast, People Drawn to Starches First and Vegetables Last Brian Wansink, PhD; Aner Tal, PhD; Mitsuru Shimizu, PhDArch Intern Med. 2012;172(12):961-963. doi:10.1001/archinternmed.2012.1278.
The global obesity pandemic: shaped by global drivers and local environmentsBoyd A Swinburn MD, Gary Sacks, PhD, Kevin D Hall PhD, Klim McPherson PhD, Diane T Finegood PhD, Marjory L Moodie, DrPH, Steven L Gortmaker PhD. The Lancet, Volume 378, Issue 9793, Pages 804 - 814, 27 August 2011 doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60813-1
SNAP and Public Health: The Role of the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance ProgramIn Improving the Health and Well-Being of AmericansFood Research and Action Councilhttp://frac.org/pdf/snap_and_public_health_2013.pdf
361
366
372
Potential Reasons for Lack of Evidence for Food Insecurity and Obesity in Kids
• Mainly cross-sectional studies• Not examining all the relevant factors in same
study• Measurement issues and defining
measurement at the individual (hunger) and household (food insecurity) levels
Could we, should we…. compare?
Geographic Distribution - Obesity
(U.S. Adults *BMI ≥30, or ~ 30 lbs. overweight for 5’ 4” person)
No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%
Source: Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS, 2008)
Geographic Distribution - Food Insecurity
Below U.S. average U.S. average Above U.S. average
Geographic Distribution – PovertyPercent of People Below Poverty Level in the Past 12 Months
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2006-2008 American Community Survey
Geographic Distribution of Everything Else
Consumption
Convenience
Cost Taste
Nutrition Knowledge
Convenience
•Decrease Portion Sizes
•Packaging Solutions•More “Grab and Go” for Healthier food Options
Cost
•Reformulation of Products
•Decease price for Healthy and Increase for Unhealthy Foods
Taste
•Keep Taste and Good Nutrition in Mind
•Make Gradual Shifts Knowledge
•Provide Understandable Food Labels
•Increase Knowledge of Recommendations
•Teach People to Cook
Convenience-CostTradeoff
Taste-NutritionTradeoff
Sources: Wansink, B., Huckabee, M. De-marketing obesity. 2005. California Management Review, 47: 1-13; Yaroch, A, Pinard, C. 2012. Arch Intern Med 172(12):963-964; Wansink B, Tal A, Shimizu M. First foods most: after 18-hour fast, people drawn to starches first and vegetables last. Arch Intern Med. 2012;172(12):961-963
Short-term food deprivation
Over-consumption of Calorie Dense Food
The experience of food insecurity, and periods of deprivation, may change how individuals consider these tradeoffs and their subsequent food choices.
Pressing Issues
•Agricultural Policy•Transportation Policy•Poverty Policy•Food Policy
Policy Interventions
•Resource awareness campaigns•Educational campaigns
Mass Marketing Campaigns
•Increase participation in Food Assistance (e.g., SNAP)
Programs through National Organizations
•Promote food system participatory planning (Food Policy Councils)•Promote food democracy/social justice (EBT at Farmers Market, Double Up Food Bucks)
Community-wide engagement
•Farmers Markets, community gardens, or mobile carts or trucks that sell fruits and vegetables.
Groups working together (e.g., church, schools)
•Education/skill building
Individually tailored programs
Policy
Community/ Organizations
Family/Home
Individual
Call to Action
Questions?