IOM Calls For Changes Throughout American Life To Combat Obesity.

NBC Nightly News (5/8, story 8, 2:20, Williams) reported, "Back now with our reporting on what's being called The Weight Of The Nation. Last night we told you about a stunning prediction that by the year 2030, health experts are telling us 42% of Americans will be obese. Today at a conference in Washington, some sweeping strategies for fighting this epidemic."

        The AP  (5/9, Neergaard) reports in a story appearing on at least 180 news sites that the Institute of Medicine released a "major new report" yesterday finding that "fighting obesity will require changes everywhere Americans live, work, play and learn."

        USA Today  (5/9, Hellmich) reports, "The goals and some of the strategies were presented...at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's 'Weight of the Nation' meeting, where experts are discussing ideas for the prevention and control of obesity." While "the report says there is no one answer to this problem...it's going to require bringing all the pieces together -- the schools, the workplace, health care providers, says Dan Glickman, chairman of the institute committee and former secretary of the US Department of Agriculture."

        The Wall Street Journal  (5/9, McKay, Subscription Publication) quotes Glickman as saying, "If you believe this is a massive national problem, you have to deal with it in a systems way." He added, "This problem is incapable of being solved with a magic bullet."

        The Boston Globe  (5/9, Kotz) "Daily Dose" blog reports, "The panel of 16 experts -- a mixture of lawyers, health policy makers, health care executives and obesity researchers -- sorted through 800 previously published recommendations for obesity prevention, examining the latest evidence for each of them and whether it was strong enough to fold into...five main goals."

        The Los Angeles Times  (5/9, Healy) "Booster Shots" blog reports, "The panel recommended that schools position themselves as gateways to obesity prevention, ensuring that children get at least an hour of physical activity daily, barring access to foods and beverages high in calories, and offering all students healthful, nutritious foods and instruction in the fundamentals of healthful eating and living." Additionally, "workplaces and health insurers should 'increase the support structure' for obesity prevention, diagnosis and treatment and for encouraging healthful behaviors such as regular exercise, healthful eating and breast-feeding for new mothers." Meanwhile, "Congress should support the Obama administration's proposed funding increase for the school lunch program and join with federal officials in setting aside 'substantial funding' for a 'sustained and robust social marketing program on physical activity and nutrition,' the report said."

        The Hill  (5/9, Viebeck) "Healthwatch" blog reports, "The changes are aimed at a complete overhaul of the United States' 'obesogenic' environment, the panel wrote."

        Reuters  (5/9, Begley) reports in a story appearing on at least 50 news sites that the IOM found that obesity is not the result of individual choice or lack of willpower, and that societal change is necessary to reduce it. One member of the IOM is quoted saying that the environment promotes obesity. Also covering the story are WebMD  (5/9, DeNoon), MedPage Today  (5/9, Fiore), and HealthDay  (5/9, Preidt).