Vol. 18, No. 12	Nov. 19, 1998

State urges obesity awareness

A llan Waterfield, health and exercise sciences, as chairperson of the Governor's Council on Lifestyle and Fitness, took part in a ceremony earlier this month when Gov. Thomas R. Carper proclaimed November "Obesity Awareness Month."

The council, which promotes healthy lifestyles, is a coalition of interested citizens, physicians, youth leaders and health professionals, Waterfield said, and also includes from UD Lynn Snyder-Mackler, physical therapy, and Avron Abraham, health and exercise sciences.

In his Obesity Awareness Month proclamation, Carper said that obesity is a "widespread and growing problem in the United States with significant medical, psychosocial and economic consequences" and that the "prevalence of obesity has increased substantially over the last several decades" with indications "that this trend will continue."

An estimated one-half of Americans are overweight, he said, and are at increased risk of developing "type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, gallbladder disease, hypertension and certain forms of cancer."

Calling obesity "a chronic disease with a complex and multifactorial etiology" demanding a "multifaceted treatment approach," the proclamation urges "all citizens to be aware of the chronic disease of obesity and consider new approaches to reach a healthier weight."