By Trevor Graff
KHI News Service
TOPEKA — Kansas’ top health official briefed legislators Tuesday on the increasing problem of obesity.
Dr. Robert Moser, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, said the percentage of Kansas adults that are obese grew from 20 percent in 2000 to 29.8 percent in 2012. The percentage of obese high school students went from 8.7 percent to 12.6 percent over that same period.
“It really is a public health priority if you consider the impact that obesity has on acute and chronic disease, the longevity and the overall well being of individuals,” Moser told members of the House Health and Human Services Committee. “Not only is it one of the leading causes of preventable disease, weight also contributes to a number of other issues.”
Moser said researchers aren’t finding that American have necessarily been eating more – taking in more calories – over the last 50 years so much as they have become less physically active.
He said a 2005 study published in the Annual Review of Public Health showed an 8 percent decrease in the number of American working in high activity occupations since the 1950s.
He said health department statistics show that only 16.5 percent of Kansas adults met both aerobic and strengthening exercise guidelines in 2011. The aerobic guideline calls for 150 minutes of “vigorous” physical activity per week. The strengthening guideline, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, is to work all major muscle groups two or more days per week.
“We’re just not as physically active and engaged in the work that we do,” Moser said. “So the declining rates of physically active workers are indeed contributing to our obesity.”
KDHE surveys show 60 percent of Kansas high school students spend three or more sedentary hours per day, he said. Only 30 percent do the 60 minutes of daily physical activity suggested by the department.
“Most of the recommendations coming from researchers and looking at how we can be more impactful is working with people where they spend most of their day,” Moser said. “Obviously we want them to have healthy habits at home, but we realize we need to work at the business level and in our school systems.”
Rep. John Wilson, a Lawrence Democrat, said the secretary’s briefing on obesity should be heard by more House members.
“In a large way, our zip code and our income determine our health and the decisions we make around education policy and budget policy and tax policy are indeed health policy.”