America Talks Health Care
Tommy G. Thompson, Secretary of the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services
January 23, 2003
Austin, TX

Speakers endorse preventive health
by Cindy Tumiel, SAN ANTONIO EXPRESS-NEWS

Lots of now-familiar facts were discussed at the meeting convened by Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson.

Sixty percent of Americans are overweight or obese. The number of overweight children has tripled in the last 20 years, and 17 million Americans have Type 2 diabetes. Heart disease remains entrenched as the top killer.

Studies also have shown that modest lifestyle changes — losing 10 pounds and walking 30 minutes a day — pay tremendous health benefits. But convincing people to forgo fast food and get off the couch remains a major challenge.

"If information were enough to get people to quit smoking, nobody would smoke," said Dr. Dean Ornish, author and founder of the Preventative Medicine Institute, one of the invited speakers.

The forum was the third of four meetings Thompson has planned around the nation to discuss assorted health issues.

Thompson is seeking $125 million next year to give grants to communities that develop programs to combat and prevent diabetes, obesity and asthma.

Currently, just 5 percent to 7 percent of federal health care dollars are channeled into prevention, Thompson told about 200 people at the meeting.

"We have to change that pyramid to get more money into preventative medicine, and that is what I've got to figure out how to do," he said.

Texas Health Commissioner Eduardo Sanchez said intervention is crucial here, where growing Hispanic and African American populations are more inclined to be obese and develop diabetes.

Children are developing diabetes, and adults are developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, arthritis and cancer at younger ages, he said. The future economic drain will be tremendous, he said.

"The physical health of Texas will determine its fiscal health," Sanchez said. "That is true for America as well."

School-based programs show promise of starting the culture change that is necessary, Sanchez and others noted.

Peter Cribb, program director for Coordinated Approach to Children's Health, said that project was credited with stemming the rising rate of obesity in El Paso schools.

The program is now operating in about 1,000 elementary schools statewide, including about 50 in Northside, North East and Harlandale school districts in San Antonio.

It stresses the importance of a healthy lifestyle by integrating health and physical education, parental involvement and school food service.

Amy Lippincott, a Powell Elementary School physical education teacher who came to the Austin meeting, said the message has taken hold so well that parents are reporting odd behavior from their children.

One second-grader admonished his father for taking him to McDonald's twice in one week, Lippincott said.

"He said that wasn't healthy eating," the teacher said.

Overview

Final Program

Press Clips

Panelist Presentations