Overview of the FDA Initiative on Obesity

FDA Science BoardApril 22, 2004

Robert E. Brackett, Ph.D.Director, Center for Food Safety and Applied

Nutrition

Background

• Overweight and obesity increase the risk of coronary heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, and certain cancers.

• According to some estimates, at least 400,000 deaths each year may be attributed to obesity related conditions.

Background

• Total economic cost of obesity in the United States is about $117 billion per year.

Background

• FDA’s Obesity Working Group (OWG)–Created on August 11, 2003 by

Commissioner McClellan

Background

• Charge–Prepare a report that outlines an

action plan to cover critical dimensions of the obesity problem from FDA’s perspective and authorities.

Obesity Working Group

• Met 8 times• Received briefings from several invited

experts from DHHS including CDC and NIH

• One public meeting• One workshop• Two roundtable discussions• Solicited comments on obesity-related

issues (Docket No. 2003N-0338)

OWG Report

• Provides a range of short and long-term recommendations to address the obesity epidemic.

• Based on scientific facts

• Addresses multiple facets of the obesity problem under FDA’s purview

OWG Recommendations

• Developing appropriate and effective consumer messages to aid consumers in making wiser dietary choices

• Establishing educational strategies and partnerships to support appropriate messages and teach people, particularly children, how to lead healthier lives through better nutrition

OWG Recommendations

• Pursuing improvements to the labeling of packaged foods with respect to caloric and other nutrition information

• Encouraging and enlisting restaurants in voluntary, collaborative efforts to combat obesity and provide nutrition content information to consumers, including calories, at the point of sale

OWG Recommendations

• Facilitating the development of new therapeutics for the treatment of obesity

• Designing and collaborating with others in effective research in the fight against obesity

• Involving stakeholders continuously throughout these various processes

OWG Report Conclusions

• The problem of obesity in America has no single cause.– Result of multiple factors acting together over

time, including genetic and environmental factors.

• No single solution to the problem of obesity.– Current trends will be reversed only as a

result of coordinated, complementary efforts from a variety of sectors of society.

OWG Report Conclusions

• The obesity epidemic will not be solved quickly.– Any long-lasting reversal of this phenomenon

will itself be a long-term process.

OWG’s Work - Updates

• National Policy Dialogue (Dr. Rulis)

• Therapeutics (Dr. Orloff)

• Obesity Research (Dr. Acheson)