Obesity epidemic seen as a public health crisis.('Cannot Be Medicalized Away')

WASHINGTON -- The growing epidemic of obesity is not just a problem for physicians and insurers, but for all industries and policy makers, said Dr. William Caplan, director of clinical development at Kaiser Permanente's Care Management Institute.

"This problem cannot be medicalized away," he said. "This is a public health issue."

Kaiser Permanente has identified overweight and obesity as a clinical priority area, Dr. Caplan explained at a conference sponsored by the American Association of Health Plans. The group's goal is to prevent obesity, especially in children, and is training its clinicians to address the issues of physical activity and obesity during the office visit.

Kaiser's Care Management Institute has also partnered with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to form a national coalition of experts to help come up with approaches to fight obesity. Kaiser is not alone in its actions. "Nearly all health plans are doing something to improve physical activity," said Molly E. French, director of policy research at the Partnership for Prevention.

Ms. French and her colleagues have been collecting information on what health plans are doing to promote physical activity among subscribers and what further actions are needed. ...