CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Also Updates Diabetes County-Level Estimates.
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) applauds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for releasing estimates that provide the first county-level snapshots of obesity across the United States. The report also updates diabetes county-level estimates released in 2008.
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) November 21, 2009 -- The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) applauds the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for releasing estimates that provide the first county-level snapshots of obesity across the United States. The report also updates diabetes county-level estimates released in 2008.
“We applaud CDC for the timely release of this report, which highlights our country’s chronic disease crisis and, in particular, two of the fastest growing chronic illnesses responsible for reduced quality of life, disability and death,” said John Robitscher, NACDD Executive Director. “These county-level estimates reveal a strong need for better support of public health workers to help combat the chronic disease epidemic at a community level.”
The NACDD’s Diabetes Council is actively involved in efforts to reduce obesity and its health-related risk factors and to define, prioritize, and address national public health issues related to diabetes. The Council is a resource to state- and territorial-based public health workers across the country seeking to build program infrastructure, learn best practices, collect data and evaluate the effectiveness of their activities.
In 2007, NACDD was selected by CDC to support local health departments through ACHIEVE (Action Communities for Health, Innovation, and EnVironmental changE). Along with YMCA of the USA, NACDD collaborates with CDC through the ACHIEVE program to enhance local communities’ abilities to develop and implement policy, systems, and environmental change strategies that will help prevent or manage health-risk factors for obesity and diabetes, as well as heart disease, stroke, cancer, and arthritis.
“We know that obesity, diabetes and other chronic diseases contribute significantly to our nation’s rising health care costs, as well as their impact to quality of life,” said Robitscher. “This report shows that there’s quite a bit of work to be done to reduce their prevalence, and those efforts must include initiatives at the state and community level.”
About the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD)
The National Association of Chronic Disease Directors (NACDD) is a national public health association for chronic disease program directors of each state and U.S. territory. The NACDD works to reduce the impact of chronic diseases on the American population by advocating for preventive policies and programs, encouraging sharing of knowledge and developing partnerships for health promotion. (www.chronicdisease.org).
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