Obesity
Nearly 30 percent of Ohio’s population is considered obese, making it the 10th fattest state in the nation. OHA recognizes that without a change, obesity will continue to be one of Ohio’s top health threats.
Reducing obesity means reducing health risks to millions of Ohioans and also lowering health care costs. Obesity costs Ohioans $3.3 billion in health care costs on an annual basis. Half of obesity-related medical expenditures are financed by taxpayers through Medicare and Medicaid. Ohio spends $289 per person per year on medical costs related to obesity, the 11th highest in the nation.
OHA’s Foundation for Healthy Communities aims to advance good health for all Ohioans through its work as the nonprofit grant-making arm of OHA. In 2008, it awarded grants to five OHA member hospitals for projects aimed at fighting obesity in a local workplace, touching more than 600 lives. The foundation also recognizes the importance of obesity prevention and this year awarded four hospitals grants for programs engaging local communities in long-term efforts to reduce childhood obesity.
Long-term, sustainable action focused on prevention and reducing the prevalence of obesity can have benefits for all.
To establish nutritional standards for food and beverages sold in vending machines in public schools.
Tell Your Local Legislators the Tax Hurts You
March 3, 2010:
OHA created templates letters for CEOs as well as hospital/health system employees to let local legislators know they are angry the hospital is paying a tax to the state when it could be using those funds to hire staff or expand the local economy. With a few simple clicks, the letters can be e-mailed or printed and mailed to local legislators.
View template letter from CEOs
View template letter from hospital/health system employee