We’re concerned.  People who are obese or even overweight are a much greater risk for a variety of health conditions—heart disease, diabetes, perhaps some kinds of cancer.

Obesity is the number one health issue in this country—somewhere around 2/3rds of us are beyond a weight that’s really healthy for us, in the long run.

And Americans—for the most part—are in denial about this, as we found in one of the largest studies to date on this topic.

We’re particularly concerned about childhood obesity.  Did you know that more than 12 million children and adolescents are overweight?  That’s nearly 20% of all our young people.  If they don’t modify their lifestyle, they’re headed for lots of issues as adults.

And the problems of childhood and adult obesity don’t just affect those who weigh too much.  As a society, we all pay, through increased medical costs and higher insurance premiums.

As advocates for change, we’re on the outlook for opportunities to use our expertise and our volunteer time to combat this growing epidemic.  Join the annual “Step Out” Walk sponsored in cities around the country by the American Diabetes Association.  Advocate for better food and beverage choices in your children’s schools.  And take the hard look at your lifestyle choices.  Be the change you want to create!

We recently conducted a statewide study in conjunction with The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness to measure Tennesseans’ awareness of how behavior impacts health and the degree to which residents are taking steps to lead healthier lives. We found that “education” about healthy habits is not an issue, but the motivation to integrate those healthy habits into everyday life is the challenge. The Governor’s Foundation will respond to this “activation” challenge with their StartNow campaign. Click below to see the StartNow TV spot.