American Obesity Association makes headway in fight for nation's health

One of the most understated fights in the medical field is that of obesity, which is steadily rising to the forefront of American concerns.

The newest statistics indicate 42% of Americans are obese and another 35% are overweight, Cision reported. The trend does not bode well as a new study indicates 50% of Americans will be obese in 2025 with the figure growing to 60% by 2030. As it stands, the 120 million obese Americans carry a financial impact of $1.7 trillion a year. There is also a new COVID-19 threat with 60% of its fatalities attributed to obesity.

It is no secret the solution to offset the pandemic has not been found. Cision reported there have approximately 5,000 recommendations and initiatives produced in the last 50 years. The American Obesity Association, formerly known as the Massachusetts Science Center, has introduced several national programs to reduce obesity. One pilot program in the Boston area produced notable results during the 2018-19 academic year. The results included a 92% increase in desired fitness and health outcomes, a 64% reduction in electronic devise usage and a 78% decrease in obesity.

Cision reported no other program has had this type of success.

The success comes off of 25 years the American Obesity Association has focused on science and research education. The organization has worked hands-on delivering a wide range of customized and low-cost STEM. There is also wellness, cooking, nutrition and fitness programs that have been made available to 1.2 million children and adults.

Bolstered by its success in the Boston pilot program, the American Obesity Association’s mission is to engage everyone and dramatically impact their overall health and well-being through a new national awareness campaign. It believes that both individuals and organizations can support a better future and take advantage or the opportunity to improve the lives of Americans.