Obesity Prevention Summit: Policy Solutions for a Healthier Washington
The Obesity Prevention Summit discusses innovative policy strategies to combat obesity in Washington. Featuring insights from Hugh Ewart of Seattle Children's Hospital, the presentation outlines the hospital's cafeteria and vending changes, emphasizing the importance of healthier beverage options. Over 1/3 of patients at Seattle Children’s are overweight or obese, necessitating immediate action. Strategies include limiting sugary drink consumption, advocating for government policy changes, and addressing the challenges posed by powerful interest groups. Together, we can foster a healthier environment for our children.
Obesity Prevention Summit: Policy Solutions for a Healthier Washington
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Presentation Transcript
Obesity Prevention Summit: Policy Solutions for a Healthier Washington Hugh Ewart Seattle Children’s Hospital November 15, 2011
Overview • Seattle Children’s Institutional Snapshot • Cafeteria and Vending Philosophy and Changes • Beverages • SSB Consumption: Role of Individual • Impact possible • Sustainable only in concert with other supports • SSB Policy Change by Government: Politics • Power of the T word in a recession • Powerful interest groups
Seattle Children’s Institutional Snapshot • 250 bed pediatric referral center • Serving largest landmass of any free-standing children’s hospital in US (Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho) • Over 2/3 of patients have multiple chronic conditions • 1/3 of patients are overweight or obese. 40% in our Odessa Brown Children’s Clinic • Breadth of obesity research
Seattle Children’s Institutional Snapshot • Increased healthy food and beverage options in cafeteria and food vending machines • Soda not on patient menus • Soda Free Sundays • New vendor will allow significant increase in healthy vending machine beverage options in coming months
SSB Consumption: Role of Individual • Beverage consumption a modifiable behavior change • Changing food consumption behavior much more complicated • Food=indisputable human need • Soda=unnecessary for human survival • External supports imperative to sustain behavior change
SSB Policy Change by Government: Politics • Taxes hard during economic downturns • Philadelphia SSB tax • $10M obesity research grant offered by soda industry • Tax effort halted • Modest Washington State soda tax • American Beverage Association spends $17M to overturn legislative-approved ‘grocery tax’
