#NationalNutritionMonth-Healthy Steps to Combat Obesity
March 20, 2018 · NCQA Communications
National Nutrition Month 2018
What you eat matters! That’s why this March we are celebrating National Nutrition Month by recognizing health plans that are taking action against obesity and poor diet.
National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. It started in 1973 as week-long initiative to promote the work of dieticians and nutritionists and to educate the general public on healthy eating facts and habits. Since then, the campaign has been extended to the entire month of March, to promote and celebrate proper nutrition!
Nutrition itself is an important part of preventative care and keeping a healthy weight. At NCQA, we recognize health care providers who properly measure BMI as a means to identify and properly treat individuals that are obese. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, more than 40% 16-19-year-olds are considered obese. That number is even more concerning in 2-5-year-olds who saw the greatest jump in obesity rates with nearly %15 who are considered Obese, the greatest increase since 1999.
At NCQA, we examine one thousand health care plans and use our HEDIS measurements to rate those plans on the quality of care they provide to their patients. Below are the plans that scored a 5 (the highest possible score) in the area of BMI assessment for children ages 3-17, as well as a 5 overall:
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. – Northern California
- Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization, Inc.
- Tufts Benefit Administrators, Inc.
Similarly, the plans below received 5 for their Adult BMI assessments, and a 5 overall:
- Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan
- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.
- Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. – Northern California
- Tufts Associated Health Maintenance Organization, Inc.
Obesity is one of the leading contributors to heart disease with it being the factor to at least one and five deaths in the United States. Fortunately, obesity is a highly treatable disease. With incremental changes to diet and exercise patterns and adhering to the advice of your doctor, Obesity can become a thing of the past with all Americans living healthy and thriving lives.
