Your health. What could be more valuable? At Cleveland Clinic, putting patients first is, and always has been, our mission. It’s the reason we are here, to help people live their healthiest lives.

That's why we strive to provide outstanding and compassionate care, every step along the way. And why we're recognized as one of the nation's top hospitals, and ranked No. 1 in heart care by U.S.News & World Report.

No time to waste in a fight against a growing epidemic

A letter to our readers from Delos M. Cosgrove, MD, CEO and President

I see it every day — in the news, on the street, at the office. Americans are alarmingly heavier. How it began is not entirely clear, and how to reverse the trend is even murkier. Two things, however, are certain: The health consequences of an increasingly overweight society are serious, and we have to do something about it.

Conditions associated with being overweight range from heart disease and diabetes to depression and bone and joint problems. As a physician, I’ve seen the effects on people.

Chronic health issues have a big impact on quality of life and can come with substantial financial costs.

I’m painting a dire picture and, indeed, we are facing a challenge. The “simple” equation of “fewer calories consumed plus more exercise equals weight loss” — or, more important, well-being — is not so simple. Genetic predisposition, limited access to healthful foods and inadequate opportunities for exercise can serve as blockades on the road to health. We all have busy lives, and making time to exercise and eat right can be tough. But all of us can take small, manageable steps to overcome these obstacles.

It starts with prevention at a young age. Children are increasingly at risk. In fact, it is here that the statistics are most striking. Thirty years ago, about 5 percent of U.S. children were considered overweight or obese. Today, that figure has more than tripled to 17 percent. Potential causes range from too little active play to too much fast food. But as teachers, parents and even grandparents, we can make a difference by acting as role models, offering support and becoming active alongside our young people — a win-win approach for everyone.

Lifestyle changes don’t have to be monumental. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Challenge a friend to a game of tennis. Pack a lunch instead of opting for the drive-through. Attend an information session at a local health center. And always work with a primary-care physician.

Cleveland Clinic is trying to do its part to combat this new epidemic. Our physicians, researchers and educators are rising to the challenge in inspiring new ways, from pioneering applications for bariatric surgery to developing an elementary-level educational curriculum that encourages anti-obesity behaviors. Close to home, we’ve removed trans-fats from our hospital and food-service menus.

Successfully combating this health crisis will require multiple approaches and a group effort. Together, we can achieve a healthier tomorrow.

Download Cleveland Clinic Magazine, Summer 2008

PDF format, 4.6MB, 48Pages.

COVER STORY
12 Do Your Genes Decide the Size of Your Jeans?
Somewhat. But you can do a lot to slip into your small-size denims, say experts. At the top of their list: Toss aside poor eating habits and get moving.

John Kirwan, PhD, was baffled. While conducting a study on diabetes risk, he expected his study’s older, overweight participants to become healthier after 12 weeks of supervised exercise. What he didn’t expect was that a handful of people would virtually erase their diabetes risk — slashing it by 90 percent — with a simple hour of daily exercise.

What was different, he asked, about this small group of people? Was it diet? Was it good genes? After examining and rejecting several explanations, Dr. Kirwan and his research team at Cleveland Clinic’s Lerner Research Institute decided to examine what people were eating. At the study’s start, participants were all teetering dangerously close to developing type 2 diabetes, a major risk of being overweight. They had been told to stick with their normal diet and to record what they ate in a food diary. When the researchers compared food diaries, they were amazed at what they found.

FEATURES
20 The Shape of Kids to Come
Communities are bringing back P.E., restocking snack machines and selling vegetables on sidewalks to shape up America’s children. The very future of our next generation is at stake. Can we turn around the dangerous trend of our kids’ excess girth?

26 Sweet Results
When the diagnosis is type 2 diabetes, weight-loss surgery may hold the key to a better life—even for people considered “thin” by traditional bariatric standards.

CC PROFILE
9 Getting Real About Wellness
Michael Roizen, MD, on why we should stock up on walnuts and make living longer a priority.

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Cleveland Clinic, located in Cleveland, Ohio, is a not-for-profit, multispecialty academic medical center that integrates clinical and hospital care with research and education. Cleveland Clinic was founded in 1921 by four renowned physicians with a vision of providing outstanding patient care based upon the principles of cooperation, compassion and innovation.

Today, Cleveland Clinic is one of the largest and most respected hospitals in the country.

At Cleveland Clinic, we provide our patients with cutting-edge advancements in coronary medicine, an impeccable surgical record and a world-renowned research team.

Let us care for your heart. Find the confidence to face any condition at clevelandclinic.org/heart or call 1-866-544-9616.

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