SHORT REPORT Obesity in adults and children: a call for action Karyn Holm PhD RN FAAN Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA Suling Li PhD RN Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA Nancy Spector DNS RN Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA Frank Hicks PhD RN Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA and Post-Doctoral Fellow, School of Nursing, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA Elizabeth Carlson PhD RN Associate Professor, School of Nursing, Purdue University, West Lafayette, Indiana, USA and Dorothy Lanuza PhD RN FAAN Professor, School of Nursing, Loyola University, Chicago, Illinois, USA Submitted for publication 12 February 2001 Accepted for publication 16 July 2001 Introduction Obesity in the United States of America (USA), Europe and throughout the world has increased markedly over the past decade (Heart, Lung and Blood Institute [HLBI] 1999, Khaodhiar et al. 1999, Sorensen 2000, DesJarlais & Jones 2001). The World Health Organization now recognizes obesity as a global epidemic (World Health Organization 1997) with a substantial economic burden that includes expenditures for paid sick leave, life insurance, disability 266 Ó 2001 Blackwell Science Ltd Correspondence: Karyn Holm, School of Nursing, Loyola University Chicago, 1640 East 50th Street-9C, Chicago, IL 60615, USA. HOLM HOLM K ., LI LI S ., SPECTOR SPECTOR N ., HICKS HICKS F ., CARLSON CARLSON E . & LANUZA LANUZA D . (2001) (2001) Journal of Advanced Nursing 36(2), 266–269 Obesity in adults and children: a call for action Obesity/overweight in adults and children is a worldwide health problem associated with substantial economic burden as measured by paid sick leave, life and disability insurance rates, and obesity-related physician visits and hospital stays. Overweight/ obese people experience hypertension, elevated cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes and suffer more joint and mobility problems than people within the normal weight for height range. While there is need to understand individual behaviors that can be modified to promote weight loss and weight maintenance, there is as great a need to consider contextual factors at the societal level that can impede or even sabotage weight control efforts. In every country with improved living standards people will continue to eat too much and engage in too little physical activity. The call for action is for all modernized societies to alter environments and attitudes to support, rather than hinder, healthy dietary intake and being physically active. Keywords: overweight, obesity, public policy, nursing