The increasing rate of obesity in the South raises grave concerns about the quality of life for the region’s citizens, while also significantly impacting state budgets as a result of increased medical costs and decreased worker productivity. Recent reports cite nine of the ten states with the highest rates of obesity as being located in the South, leading also to the dubious distinction of having among the highest incidence of diabetes, hypertension, cardiac arrest, asthma and other life-threatening illnesses associated with obesity.
In an effort to combat this epidemic, Southern governors continue to promote programs and implement state policies to encourage the adoption of a healthy lifestyle by the region’s citizens. SGA supports these efforts by facilitating collaborative exchanges where governors can discuss the fiscal and economic implications of these trends for their respective states, and share “success stories” about model programs and policy options. Recently, several experts in the field discussed the data available pursuant to the economic impact of this crisis, as well as various policy and programmatic options that governors may wish to consider applying in their states.
The Honorable Mike Huckabee, former Governor, State of Arkansas, has been a leader in the effort to implement state policies to promote healthy lifestyles, driven in many ways by his own personal battle with obesity. While serving as the Governor of Arkansas, he lost over 100 pounds through diet and exercise, and implemented the Healthy Arkansas initiative. He is a national advocate for addressing the obesity crisis, and a published author.
Dr. William Rowley, Senior Futurist, Institute for Alternative Futures has completed forecasts of the incidence of obesity and diabetes in many Southern states, including the costs associated with these trends. Read more.
Susan R. Cooper, MS, RN, Commissioner, Tennessee Department of Health; Director, Project Diabetes, has assumed leadership of Tennessee Governor Bredesen’s Project Diabetes, which was created to address the threat of Type 2 diabetes facing young people; and she has helped facilitate the creation of the Governor’s GetFitTN Initiative.
Dr. Marshall Bouldin, Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, has created in the Mississippi Delta a replicable system of care delivery through cost-effective clinics that bring diabetes care up to the national standard and help prevent some of the complications of the disease. Read more.
John Miall, Special Consultant, American Pharmacists Association Foundation; former Director, Risk Management, City of Asheville, North Carolina, was one of the visionaries behind The Asheville Project, an effort of the City of Asheville, North Carolina, which is a self-insured employer, to provide education and personal oversight for employees with chronic health problems, including diabetes, asthma, hypertension and high cholesterol. Read more.