Guest Editorial: Focus on obesity in healthcare reform

摘要

As the Senate prepares to pass comprehensivehealthcare reform, obesity management becomesa top priority for the long-term sustainability ofquality healthcare in America. A recent report in the NewEngland Journal of Medicine confirms that the obesityepidemic is public health enemy number one.1 Accordingto the authors’ analysis, life expectancy gains createdby the public health initiative to reduce smoking will benegated and overwhelmed by the skyrocketing averagebody mass index of Americans. A predicted 50% prevalenceof obesity in the United States by 2020 effectivelymakes obesity the most pressing public health issue of ourtime.