| Based on 2007, 2008 and 2009, Tennessee was | | | | System has been a new classification divided into |
| the second worst state in the nation for obesity | | | | five stages of obesity. Beginning with an initial |
| among adults. Only Mississippi was rated worse | | | | stage 0 or an absence of obesity-related |
| than Tennessee's 31.6 percent ranking. | | | | problems, this system scales up to stage 4. |
| A 2010 report from the Trust for America' Health | | | | It's a simple system that allows doctors to more |
| and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has | | | | easily categorize where their patients fit into the |
| now confirmed Tennessee as the second worst | | | | scale based on a physical exam, medical history, |
| state for obesity. | | | | and testing for blood sugar and cholesterol levels. |
| Far from being benign, obesity is among the key | | | | New Understanding of the Severity of |
| risk factors contributing to a growing epidemic of | | | | Obesity-related Disease |
| type 2 diabetes. According to the manager of the | | | | The new system delves into something that has |
| Step ONE obesity prevention program, John | | | | been lacking in common approaches of the past. |
| Bilderback, children as young as five have been | | | | That's the severity of risk factors for |
| diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. That disease had | | | | obesity-related diseases. |
| been known as "adult-onset" diabetes. | | | | It's hoped that a more thorough approach will help |
| Obesity Highest in States with Epidemics of Type | | | | doctors prioritize treatment and make more |
| 2 Diabetes | | | | accurate determinations regarding which patients |
| The link between diabetes and obesity is so | | | | can benefit from medical and surgical |
| strong that the top 10 states for adult diabetes | | | | interventions. How useful this is to doctors is being |
| are among the top 14 states with the greatest | | | | tested at Alberta Health Services' adult Weight |
| obesity problems. As you might suspect, | | | | Wise clinic. |
| Tennessee is the third worst state in the country | | | | Getting doctors up to speed with better |
| for having a high rate of diabetes. | | | | assessment tools is only half of the solution. The |
| This escalation in obesity has been relatively | | | | other part involves a massive public awareness |
| recent. Back in 1991, no states had obesity rates | | | | movement to get people to realize how obesity |
| over 20 percent. Today almost two-thirds of the | | | | can endanger their health cutting their lives short |
| states have rates over 25 percent. | | | | at an early age. |
| Researchers Are Changing How Doctors Look at | | | | Health Insurance in Tennessee is Key to Make the |
| Obesity | | | | New Approach Effective |
| From the University of Alberta in Canada, obesity | | | | With the new system, doctors can more |
| expert Dr. Arya Sharma has been working with a | | | | accurately evaluate how obesity is degrading a |
| researcher from Northwestern University in | | | | patient's health. Obesity doctors are becoming |
| Chicago. They're redesigning the classification | | | | more common across the nation today, but |
| system that doctors use in treating obesity. | | | | patients must have health insurance in Tennessee |
| The researchers hope to replace the body mass | | | | to access help from doctors. |
| index or BMI and guidelines for waist size because | | | | Obesity can escalate the risk of life-ending |
| both were based on population studies. That | | | | diseases, such as heart disease, hypertension, |
| means they don't provide a complete picture of | | | | diabetes, stroke and cancer. That makes it crucial |
| individual patient health. | | | | for residents of Tennessee to not only learn |
| An increase in body fat by itself is not a reliable | | | | more about how doctors can help to protect their |
| indicator of related problems, which may include | | | | health, but also more about low-cost Tennessee |
| cancer, depression, diabetes, fatty liver disease, | | | | health insurance options to make that care |
| kidney disease, osteoarthritis and sleep apnea. | | | | affordable. |
| The outcome of the Edmonton Obesity Staging | | | | |
