Resources - Obesity

NCSL Web Pages

Obesity Trends
Diabetes Legislation
Includes state laws mandating diabetes health coverage.
Childhood Obesity – 2007 Update and Overview of Policy Options
An NCSL Web page providing information regarding obesity and its risks and costs, as well as a chart of relevant legislative approaches considered or enacted in 2007, state legislation on childhood obesity policy options in 2007, and summaries of other relevant 2007 legislation.
Childhood Obesity -- 2005 Update
Disease Prevention and Health Promotion
Contains facts on chronic disease, as well as further resources on various topics including arthritis, heart disease and stroke, osteoporosis and more.
Obesity in the United States
An NCSL Web page containing a fifty-state map of obesity trends among U.S. adults in 2005, as well as quick facts pertaining to obesity in the United States.
Women's Health and Diabetes
Quick facts for women about diabetes.

Diabetes: Rising Rates, Disability and Death (October 2006)
An NCSL Legisbrief highlighting the recent increase in diabetes, as well as actions being taken at the state and federal levels.
Treating Obesity (Aug/Sep. 2005)
An NCSL Legisbrief that discusses obesity costs to states, morbid obesity, obesity treatment, and state and federal action.

Adult Obesity Continues to Gain (October 2006)
An NCSL State Health Notes article highlighting the nation's growing obesity epidemic.
Teens Getting Healthier, But Still Eating Too Much, Exercising Too Little
(June 2006) A brief overview and chart from NCSL's State Health Notes showing a state-by-state comparison of selected health risk behaviors among males and females.
Childhood Obesity: States Tackle a Tough Issue (March 2006)
An NCSL State Health Notes article describing the growing number of children who are considered overweight or obese and the resulting human costs. Also includes state actions taken in attempt the reduce the problem, including mandating or recommending that the nutritional value of the food served and sold to children at schools be improved.

Obesity Among U.S. Adults (2005)
An NCSL Postcard displaying the percentage of U.S. adults who have a body mass index (BMI) of at least 30 or are at least 30 pounds overweight.
The High Cost of Obesity (2004)
An NCSL StateStats article highlighting the obesity epidemic in the United States.
Moving Into Actions: Promoting Heart-Healthy and Stroke-Free Communities
A CDC publication for legislators addressing preventive activites to promote cardiovascular health.