2022 Atlanta Board of Trustees Meeting

Creation of an Obesity Task Force

Submitted by: Obesity Medicine Association Cosponsored by: Colorado Medical Society Arizona Medical Association

Whereas obesity has been recognized by our AMA as a disease 1 ; and Whereas obesity is preventable and effective treatments are available; and Whereas a top strategic objective of our AMA is to improve health outcomes with regards to type two diabetes and hypertension; 2 and Whereas obesity rates continue to increase and obesity (BMI 30 or more) currently affects 40% of Americans and overweight/pre-obesity (BMI 25 - 29.9) affects 32% of Americans 3 ; and Whereas obesity is currently estimated to kill 320,000 Americans and cost 1.72 trillion dollars (9.3% of GDP) per year 4 ; and

1 AMA policy H-440.842 2 https://www.ama-assn.org/delivering-care/public-health/about-improving-health-outcomes 3 Cheryl D. Fryar; et al. (September 2018). "Prevalence of Overweight, Obesity, and Severe Obesity Among Adults Aged 20 and Over: United States, 1960–1962 Through 2015–2016" (PDF). Health E-Stats. National Center for Health Statistics, Division of Health Interview Statistics. Retrieved December 26, 2018. 4 https://milkeninstitute.org/sites/default/files/reports-pdf/Mi-Americas-Obesity-Crisis-WEB.pdf accessed 11/14/2019