I joined members of the Kaua‘i Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition last week for a conference designed to promote healthier choices for our residents.
These Kaua‘i-based efforts are important because, for too long, our state and nation have allowed obesity, an entirely preventable problem, to become a public health epidemic.
Since 1994, the number of Hawai‘i residents considered obese has nearly doubled, from 13 percent to 23 percent in 2008. In addition, we spend approximately $290 million in medical expenditures directly related to obesity.
As our state moves through this unprecedented fiscal downturn, it is imperative that we head off the emerging trend of families and individuals who are cutting back on healthier food choices and physical activity.
By exercising more and eating better, our residents can lead healthier lives and decrease their risk of heart disease, the number one cause of death in our state. We are making progress. From 2000 to 2007, deaths due to heart disease have decreased 28 percent, deaths by stroke have decreased 36 percent and new cases of diabetes have decreased 3 percent.
However, despite the fact that statewide levels of physical activity and fruit and vegetable consumption have largely improved over the last 10 years, the prevalence of obesity continues to rise. Simply telling people to improve their physical activity and nutrition is not enough.
Obesity is a societal issue attributable to environments that encourage sedentary lifestyles and automobile-centered community designs. Therefore, supporting healthy behaviors requires policy changes and environmental strategies to increase choice and accessibility for all of our residents.
Let me be clear when I say we do not, and should not, regulate healthy behavior. It will be up to our residents to take personal responsibility for their own decisions, but we have a part to play in encouraging and facilitating healthy choices.
During the last legislative session, we made two significant policy changes.
Complete Streets, signed into law as Act 54, allows the Department of Transportation and the County Transportation Department to provide access and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, transit users, motorists, and people of all ages and abilities.
And Safe Routes to School, signed into law as Act 100, allows the Director of Transportation to provide program funds for school-based workshops and community-based planning projects that will reduce traffic, encourage walking and bicycling, and promote health and safety.
These policy changes reflect our efforts to improve the “built environment” for residents to increase physical activity.
Research shows that the more opportunities our communities have to be physically active, such as parks, bike lanes and sidewalks, the more likely our residents will engage in physical activity. We are leading by example. And the next step is improving worksite wellness.
We are developing a comprehensive worksite wellness plan for our state, including stakeholders from state and county agencies, insurance providers, unions and the Employer-Union Benefits Trust Fund. By working together, we have a great opportunity to create worksites that support healthy lifestyles and reduce the health and economic burdens of preventable diseases for public employees.
Research shows that health promotion programs achieve an average return on investment of more than four to one when considering health care costs and absenteeism.
The future health of our state requires us to work together to invest in changes that will make it easier for residents to make healthier choices. It will be up to them to take personal responsibility for their decisions.
But we too must take ownership of our policies and responsibilities. I welcome your input and ideas as we move forward in this process.
• Republican James “Duke” Aiona Jr. is the lieutenant governor of Hawai‘i.
