September 17, 2024 by Taylor Walsh An Obesity – Mental Duress (dis)Connection? While the nation has been exerting its resources and talents to push back against the intransigent presence of mental duress that remains from COVID, particularly for young people, the preceding national ill-health epidemic – obesity – has remained entrenched. The CDC reminds us of this in its recently released report: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps. U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services; 2023 which illustrates the presence of obesity in color-coded maps, beginning with the comprehensive national view (below): The national view is then broken out into variations related to specific populations: Non-Hispanic Asian adults: Non-Hispanic White adults Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native adults Hispanic adults Non-Hispanic Black adults The accompanying document, “What Can Be Done” outlines recommended activities for federal agencies, states and local organizations, and “everyone.” As is far too often the usual case, schools remain barely visible within a broad assortment of community activities that “can be done;” which primarily emphasize the usual solutions of nutritious food and exercise. While this report is a broad overview of the still demoralizing state of obesity in the nation, its guidance does not include addressing the all-permeating presence of mental duress, which is surprising, in particular as a factor that children and adolescents are coping with, and will continue to cope with for years. At the first of the year, CDC’s Division of Adolescent School Health released an important guide for educators: “Promoting Mental Health and Well-Being in Schools: an Action Guide for School and District Leaders” Surprisingly these guidelines make no clear reference to obesity or overweight concerns, which have been cited as elements of adolescent anxiety and stress, with expansive ramification for many post K-12 activities, including recruiting for military service. This disconnect is a primary reason our work is focused strongly on strengthening the whole health of the whole child. This needed connection was the subject of panel discussions last April at the Harkin on Wellness symposium. Inter-professional conversations took place between leaders from school gardens, mindfulness, teaching kitchen and other whole health learning practices, with pediatricians and child mental health policy and research specialists. You can check out the Summary here.