2021 Archives

State of Obesity 2021: Better Policies for a Healthier America

On November 10, 2021, TFAH held a virtual congressional briefing and national webinar to explore findings from the State of Obesity 2021: Better Policies for a Healthier America report. The report examined how the social and economic factors linked to obesity were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 18^th annual report found that 16 states had adult obesity rates at 35 percent or higher, up from 12 states the year before.

Panelists covered the latest data on obesity and its impacts, highlight promising approaches to ensure healthier communities, and offer policy recommendations that can help all Americans lead healthier lives.

Briefing Resources:

TFAH Fact Sheet: State of Obesity 2021: Better Policies for a Healthier America
State of Alaska Physical Activity and Nutrition Program: Resources and References
GAO Report: Federal Strategy Needed to Coordinate Diet-Related Efforts
Rockefeller Foundation Report: True Cost of Food: Measuring What Matters to Transform the U.S. Food System
Federal Nutrition Policy Advisory Group
CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps
CDC’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion – Social Determinants of Health Framework
CDC’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity – Health Equity Work
Active People, Healthy Nation^SMWebsite
Longitudinal Trends in Body Mass Index Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Persons Aged 2–19 Years — United States, 2018–2020
JAMA Pediatrics: Underlying Medical Conditions Associated With Severe COVID-19 Illness Among Children

Pain in the Nation: How High Rates of Suicide, Drugs and Overdose Deaths Require a Comprehensive Resiliency Strategy

On May 19, 2021, Trust for America’s Health and Well Being Trust hosted a virtual Congressional briefing on the Pain in the Nation report series. Over the past decade more than one million Americans have died from alcohol, drugs and suicide. Now this trend has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, a fragmented health system, and social and community conditions. No single program or policy will be a cure-all to address these issues. Instead, a comprehensive approach that focuses on the underlying causes of these “deaths of despair” can make even our most vulnerable resilient and heal a fracturing nation.

Congressional Briefing: Ready or Not 2021: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters, and Bioterrorism

Ready or Not 2021: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism. A panel of subject matter experts will discuss the nation’s readiness for public health emergencies, examine the findings of the report, and discuss key recommendations for policymakers.

Resources:

Ready or Not 2021: Protecting the Public’s Health from Diseases, Disasters and Bioterrorism (Trust for America’s Health)
Health Defense Operations (Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies’ Prevent Epidemics program)
Tracking COVID-19 in the United States (Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies’ Prevent Epidemics program)
US COVID-19 Response (Resolve to Save Lives, an initiative of Vital Strategies’ Prevent Epidemics program)

COVID-19 Vaccine for Homebound Older Adults: Challenges and Solutions

There are up to 15 million older adults and people with disabilities in America that are experiencing challenges accessing the COVID-19 vaccine due to issues that prevent them from traveling to a vaccine site. With support from The John A. Hartford Foundation and the Cambia Health Foundation, Trust for America’s Health is offering a webinar to explore the challenges and policy barriers to vaccine access and highlight innovative vaccine distribution practices. The complexities of vaccine distribution to homebound individuals was discussed, as well as the crucial partnerships among public health departments, aging services and other community stakeholders that are key to expanding vaccine access.