H 5171 Session 112 (1997-1998)
H 5171 Concurrent Resolution, By Meacham, Allison, Bailey, Barfield, Battle,
Beck, Breeland, J. Brown, Canty, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter, Dantzler,
Davenport, Emory, Gamble, Gourdine, Hamilton, Harris, J. Hines, M. Hines,
Hinson, Howard, Jennings, B.L. Jordan, Keegan, M.H. Kinon, Kirsh, Koon, Lanford,
Lee, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis, Mack, Martin, Mason, McCraw, McGee, McMahand,
Miller, Moody-Lawrence, V.T. Mullen, Neilson, Rhoad, Riser, Rodgers, Sandifer,
Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, Spearman, Stille, Stuart, Tripp, Vaughn,
Walker, Webb, Wilder, Wilkes and Witherspoon
Similar(S 1256)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION TO REQUEST THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO STUDY THE EFFECT OF OBESITY IN BOTH ADULTS AND
CHILDREN ON COSTLY HEALTH COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS DIABETES, HYPERTENSION, HEART
DISEASE, AND STROKE, AND HEALTH COMPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN, TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN AWARENESS AND TREATMENT OF THE PROBLEMS OF
OBESITY, AND TO REPORT THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE
GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON OR BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1999.
05/21/98 House Introduced HJ-39
05/21/98 House Referred to Committee on Invitations and Memorial
Resolutions HJ-39
06/02/98 House Committee report: Favorable Invitations and
Memorial Resolutions HJ-41
06/03/98 House Adopted, sent to Senate HJ-28
06/03/98 Senate Introduced
06/03/98 Senate Referred to Committee on Medical Affairs
COMMITTEE REPORT
June 2, 1998
H. 5171
Introduced by Reps. Meacham, Allison, Bailey, Barfield, Battle,
Beck, Breeland, J. Brown, Canty, Chellis, Clyburn, Cobb-Hunter,
Dantzler, Davenport, Emory, Gamble, Gourdine, Hamilton,
A. Harris, J. Hines, M. Hines, Hinson, Howard, Jennings, Jordan,
Keegan, Kinon, Kirsh, Koon, Lanford, Lee, Littlejohn, Lloyd, Loftis,
Mack, Martin, Mason, McCraw, McGee, McMahand, Miller,
Moody-Lawrence, Mullen, Neilson, Rhoad, Riser, Rodgers, Sandifer,
Simrill, F. Smith, J. Smith, R. Smith, Spearman, Stille, Stuart, Tripp,
Vaughn, Walker, Webb, Wilder, Wilkes and Witherspoon
S. Printed 6/2/98--H.
Read the first time May 21, 1998.
THE COMMITTEE ON
INVITATIONS AND MEMORIAL
RESOLUTIONS
To whom was referred a Concurrent Resolution (H. 5171), to
request the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental
Control to study the effect of obesity in both adults and children, etc.,
respectfully
REPORT:
That they have duly and carefully considered the same, and
recommend that the same do pass:
RICHARD M. QUINN, JR., for Committee.
A CONCURRENT
RESOLUTION
TO REQUEST THE DIRECTOR OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
HEALTH AND ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROL TO STUDY THE
EFFECT OF OBESITY IN BOTH ADULTS AND CHILDREN ON
COSTLY HEALTH COMPLICATIONS SUCH AS DIABETES,
HYPERTENSION, HEART DISEASE, AND STROKE, AND
HEALTH COMPLICATIONS IN CHILDREN, TO MAKE
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT IN AWARENESS
AND TREATMENT OF THE PROBLEMS OF OBESITY, AND TO
REPORT THE FINDINGS OF THE STUDY AND
RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY ON OR
BEFORE JANUARY 1, 1999.
Whereas, a causal relationship exists between obesity and a number
of serious disorders, including hypertension, dyslipidemia,
cardiovascular disease, type-two diabetes, gallbladder disease,
respiratory dysfunction, gout, and osteoarthritis; and
Whereas, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney
Diseases provides information which indicates that nearly eighty
percent of patients and diabetes mellitus are obese, and the incidence
of symptomatic gallstones soars as a person's body mass index
increases beyond a certain level; and
Whereas, the information also reveals that nearly seventy percent of
diagnosed cases of cardiovascular disease are related to obesity,
obesity more than doubles a person's chances of developing high
blood pressure, almost half of breast cancer cases are diagnosed
among obese women, and forty-two percent of colon cancer cases are
among obese individuals; and
Whereas, obesity ranks second only to smoking as a preventable
cause of death and results in some three hundred thousand deaths
annually; and
Whereas, it is estimated that thirty-five percent of the adult
population is obese, and the prevalence of obesity grew a shocking
thirty-four percent in the last ten years; and
Whereas, a 1997 study by Kaiser Permanente indicated that the total
direct costs of obesity-related disease in the United States in 1990
was 45.8 billion dollars; and
Whereas, the Kaiser study concluded that there is a significant
potential for a reduction in health care expenditures through obesity
prevention efforts; and
Whereas, there is an urgent need for state health care groups and
medical societies to place obesity at the top of South Carolina's health
care agenda; and
Whereas, many physicians do not treat obesity because they
mistakenly believe there is no treatment for it; and
Whereas, the National Institute of Health, the American Society for
Bariatric Surgery, and the American Obesity Association recommend
that patients who are morbidly obese receive responsible, affordable
medical treatment for their obesity; and
Whereas, the diagnosis of morbid obesity should be a clinical
decision made by a physician based on proper medical protocols; and
Whereas, the recent breakthroughs in drug therapy can treat obesity
successfully, and the New England Journal of Medicine recently
emphasized the legitimate use of pharmacotherapy as a component
of treatment of medically significant obesity; and
Whereas, the new breakthroughs in obesity treatment are not widely
known and efforts must be made to inform the general public and
health care professionals that pharmacotherapy can be used as an
effective and cost-effective treatment for obesity; and
Whereas, there also is great concern regarding the effect obesity in
children may have on their overall health, health care costs, and
treatment; and
Whereas, this study by the Director of the Department of Health and
Environmental Control is critical to raise the awareness of the public
and private sectors that obesity is a disease of epidemic proportions
that is treatable and that proper treatment will reduce health care costs
and improve the quality of life for a large number of our citizens.
Now, therefore,
Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate
concurring:
That the members of the General Assembly request the Director of
the Department of Health and Environmental Control to study the
effect of obesity in both adults and children on costly health
complications such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and
stroke, and health complications in children, to make
recommendations for improvement in awareness and treatment of the
problems of obesity, and to report the findings of the study and
recommendations to the General Assembly on or before January 1,
1999.
Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to
the Director of the Department of Health and Environmental Control.
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