Liz Friedlander (202) 225-1564
Liz.Friedlander@mail.house.gov

James Ryder (202) 225-0020
James.Ryder@mail.house.gov

Today, the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry held a hearing to review the problem of obesity in the United States.

The subcommittee heard testimony from health and obesity experts about the most current statistics on obesity and the many implications of obesity on public health and communities.

“With its cost on America estimated somewhere in the $80 to $120 billion a year range, obesity is a problem we must address both for the health of our nation and for our long-term economic sustainability,” Department Operations, Oversight, Nutrition and Forestry Subcommittee Chairman Joe Baca said.  “Today’s hearing provided an excellent opportunity to learn of the tremendous impact of obesity on America, and study the education and preventative steps we must incorporate as we move forward in our attempts to eliminate this disease.”  

“The increase in obesity nationwide has far-reaching effects in terms of public health and health care costs,” Subcommittee Ranking Member Jeff Fortenberry said. “I am very concerned by this trend, particularly among our children.  Good nutrition, including a diet of fresh, locally-raised foods, can improve health outcomes and lower medical costs, a winning combination for American health care, sustainable agriculture, and strong local economies.”

Written testimony provided by the witnesses is available on the Committee website: http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov/hearings/index.html. A full transcript of the hearing will be posted on the Committee website at a later date.

Witness List

Panel I

• William Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., Director, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention, Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Washington, D.C.

Panel II

• Anne M. Wolf, R.D., M.S., Research Instructor, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, Virginia
• Richard S. Hamburg, Director of Government Relations, Trust for America’s Health, Washington, D.C.
• Martin M. Yadrick, M.S., M.B.A., R.D., F.A.D.A., President, American Dietetic Association, Washington, D.C.
• Donna Mazyck, R.N., M.S., N.C.S.N., President of the Board, National Association for School Nurses, Silver Spring, Maryland

http://democrats-agriculture.house.gov

###