Authorizing the Committee on Public Health and Human Services to hold hearings to investigate the emergence of national and local adult and childhood obesity as an epidemic, the causes of obesity; the racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related illnesses; and how the ready availability of unhealthy foods and beverages contributes to the obesity of many in Philadelphia and to evaluate obesity prevention and reduction initiatives in order to reduce the rates of childhood obesity.

WHEREAS,

Obesity (defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or greater) has increased dramatically in the last 20 years, from 10% to 27% of the adult population and from 5% to 18% of older children nationwide; and

WHEREAS,

The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry announced that unhealthy weight gain due to poor diet and lack of exercise is responsible for over 300,000 deaths each year; and

WHEREAS,

Obesity-related medical expenditures in the United States totaled more than $93 billion in 2002, with half of those costs borne by taxpayers through Medicaid and Medicare; and

WHEREAS,

According to the Center for Disease Control, obesity increases the risks of cardiovascular diseases such as coronary heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and strokes; and

WHEREAS,

In Philadelphia the problem is even more severe, with adult obesity increasing from 25% of the City population in 2000 to 28% in 2008, and childhood obesity increasing from 24% to 28% in the same time period; and

WHEREAS,

There are significant racial, ethnic and geographic disparities in the occurrence of obesity in Philadelphia; African Americans and Latinos had significantly higher rates of obesity in the 2008 study than did whites, and obesity rates in upper North Philadelphia are higher than in other areas of the City; and

WHEREAS,

Planning and implementation of multifaceted interventions in public health, food policy, urban design and community action are required in order to combat the obesity epidemic; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA,

That the Committee on Public Health and Human Services is authorized to hold hearings to investigate the emergence of national and local adult and childhood obesity as an epidemic, the causes of obesity; the racial and ethnic disparities in the prevalence of obesity and obesity-related illnesses; and how the ready availability of unhealthy foods and beverages contributes to the obesity of many in Philadelphia and to evaluate obesity prevention and reduction initiatives in order to reduce the rates of childhood obesity.

End