President Obama urged to combat obesity

WASHINGTON, June 22 (UPI) -- U.S. physicians, health organizations and nutrition experts are asking President Barack Obama to create a Presidential Commission to combat obesity.

In a letter to the president, the experts say the approach of the United Kingdom's anti-obesity strategy could serve as a model for a similar effort in the United States. Those who signed the letter include: the Center for Science in the Public Interest, the American Diabetes Association, American Public Health Association, National Consumers League, Partnership for Prevention, Shape Up America, Trust for America's Health, United Fresh Produce Association, and a number of state-level organizations.

"The increased rates of obesity will negate many of our nation's investments in healthcare and could actually condemn youths to shorter life spans than their parents," the letter states.

"Each year, obesity causes tens of thousands of premature deaths and tens of billions of dollars in avoidable medical costs. Obesity also leads to heart-wrenching psychosocial problems, such as difficulty making friends, stigmatization, and discrimination in employment."

Obesity leads to about $95 billion a year in medical expenditures, half of which are paid through Medicare and Medicaid. These costs are fueled by obesity rates that have increased in both children 6-19 and adults by 50 percent in the last 20 years, Michael Jacobson, executive director of the CSPI, says.