I
112th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4604
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 24, 2012
Ms. Norton introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce
A BILL
To amend the Public Health Service Act to provide for a national program to conduct and support activities toward the goal of significantly reducing the number of cases of overweight and obesity among individuals in the United States.
Short title
This Act may be cited as the
Lifelong Improvements in Food and
Exercise Act
or the LIFE Act
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Findings
The Congress finds as follows:
Currently, 64.5 percent of adults, age 20 years and older, are either overweight or obese and 35.7 million (more than one-third of the adult population) are obese.
Among adults who were 20 to 74 years of age, the prevalence of obesity increased from 15.0 percent in 1976 through 1980 to 32.9 percent in 2003 through 2004.
During 2003 through 2004, of children and adolescents who were 2 to 19 years of age, more than 12,500,000 (or 17.1 percent) were overweight.
Since 1980, the percentage of children who are obese has more than doubled and the percentage of adolescents who are obese has more than tripled.
More than one-third of adults do not get enough physical activity and adults have increased their caloric consumption.
The rising rates of obesity portend greater disease and health conditions, including hypertension, high total cholesterol, Type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoporosis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and some cancers, such as endometrial, breast, and colon.
Many underlying factors have been linked to the increase in obesity, such as increased portion sizes; eating out more often; increased consumption of sugar-sweetened drinks; increased television, computer, and electronic gaming time; changed labor markets; and fear of crime, which prevents outdoor exercise.
Chronic diseases account for 70 percent of all deaths each year. Although chronic diseases are among the most common and costly health problems, they are also among the most preventable. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, such as eating nutritious foods and engaging in physical activity, can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.
In 2008, overall medical costs related to obesity for adults were estimated to be as high as $147 billion. People who were obese had medical costs that were on average $1,429 greater than such costs for people of normal body weight.
Reduction in prevalence of obesity; program for lifelong improvements in food and exercise
Part B of title III of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 243 et seq.) is amended by inserting after section 317T the following new section:
Reduction in prevalence of obesity
In general
The Secretary, acting through the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, shall carry out a national program to conduct and support activities regarding individuals who are overweight or obese in order to make progress toward the goal of significantly reducing the number of cases of overweight and obesity among individuals in the United States.
Certain activities
In carrying out subsection (a), the Secretary shall (directly or through grants or contracts) carry out the following with respect to individuals who are overweight:
Activities to train health professionals to recognize that patients are overweight and to recommend prevention activities regarding such condition, including educating patients on the relationship between such condition and cardiovascular disease, diabetes and other health conditions, and on proper nutrition and regular physical activities.
Activities to educate the public with respect to the condition of being overweight, including the development of a strategy for a public awareness campaign.
The development and demonstration of intervention strategies for use at worksites and in community settings such as hospitals and community health centers.
Authorization of appropriations
For the purpose of carrying out this section, there are authorized to be appropriated $25,000,000 for fiscal year 2013, and such sums as may be necessary for each of the fiscal years 2014 through 2016.
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