Heoobin Bak
ENGL 2010
Professor Swain
06/03/2015
Lesson 4 – Four Summaries of Articles on Your Topic
#1
Rates of obesity increased in only 6 states- Not including Utah. As of September 4, 2014-
Utah now has the 5th lowest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The state of
Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America. The annual report found that Utah’s adult
obesity rate is 24.1% and rates only increased in 6 states in the past year- (Alaska,
Delaware, Idaho, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Wyoming)- and did not decrease in any.
Rates of obesity are above 35% for the first time ever in 2 states ( Mississippi and West
Virgina), are at or exceed 30% in 20 states and are not below 21% in any.
After decades of rising obesity rates amoung adults, the rate of increase is beginning to
slow.
“Obesity in America is at a critical juncture. Obesity rates are unacceptably high, and the
disparities in rates are profoundly troubling. We need to intensify prevention efforts
starting in early childhood and do a better job of implementing effective policies and
programs in all communities – so every American has the greatest opportunity to have a
healthy weight and live a healthy life.” said Jeffrey Levi, PhD, executive director of TFAH
The national childhood obesity rate has leveled off, and rates have declined in some places
and among some groups, but disparities persist and severe obesity may be on the rise.
“While adult rates are stabilizing in many states, these data suggest that our overall
progress in reversing America’s obesity epidemic is uneven and fragile. A growing number
of cities and states have reported decreases in obesity among children, showing that when
we make comprehensive changes to policies and community environments, we can build a
Culture of Health that makes healthy choices the easy and obvious choices for kids and
adults alike. Going forward, we must spread what works to prevent obesity to every state
and region, with special focus on those communities where rates remain the highest.” said
Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO.
For more than 40 years the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has worked to improve the
health and health care of all Americans. We are striving to build a national Culture of
Health that will enable all Americans to live longer, healthier lives now and for
generations to come
#2
Overweight and obesity in children and youth are increasing at an astounding rate
throughout the world. In Canada, according to estimates from the Canadian Community
