Bill Overview
Title: LIFE Act
Description: This bill requires the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to carry out a national program to conduct and support activities to reduce the number of cases of overweight or obese individuals in the United States. The activities must include training health professionals, educating the public, and developing and demonstrating intervention strategies for use in workplaces and community settings.
Sponsors: Del. Norton, Eleanor Holmes [D-DC-At Large]
Target Audience
Population: People who are overweight or obese
Estimated Size: 140000000
- Overweight and obesity are global issues affecting millions of people worldwide.
- According to the World Health Organization, worldwide obesity has nearly tripled since 1975.
- In 2016, more than 1.9 billion adults, 18 years and older, were overweight. Of these, over 650 million were obese.
- The interventions in the LIFE Act targeting reducing obesity could potentially benefit all 1.9 billion overweight individuals globally, if similar strategies were adopted worldwide.
Reasoning
- The LIFE Act is targeting the large population of 140 million overweight or obese individuals in the U.S., according to CDC estimates.
- Given the U.S. population size and distribution, it is important to consider individuals across various socio-economic and demographic brackets to ensure the policy can be effectively evaluated for both its reach and impact.
- The policy's focus on training, education, and community interventions means it is likely to have varied levels of impact—some individuals will experience significant changes in wellbeing, while others may see little to no change.
- Individuals in urban areas with more access to the new programs may experience a greater impact than those in rural areas, where program implementation could be more challenging.
- Budget constraints might limit the reach and intensity of programs especially in the initial phases, suggesting perhaps only a fraction of the target group will meaningfully engage with the proposed interventions.
Simulated Interviews
Elementary School Teacher (Los Angeles, CA)
Age: 35 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 16/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm really hopeful about the LIFE Act because as a teacher I see a lot of young children struggling with weight issues, and hopefully this program will also impact their families.
- I think it could really help me personally to have better access to information and community-based support resources.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 5 |
Truck Driver (Houston, TX)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 18/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I'm skeptical that this policy will change much for someone like me - I spend weeks on the road and don't really have time to use local community programs.
- Maybe some workplace interventions could help, but it really depends on what my company decides to implement.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Freelance Graphic Designer (New York City, NY)
Age: 27 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 15/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Living in New York, I have access to so many fitness options but they're often expensive. If the LIFE Act can bring affordable options through workplace programs or community centers, that could be a game-changer.
- Education on nutrition is pretty good here, but I feel like there are always new things to learn and the right program could help keep me on track.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Retired (Des Moines, IA)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 4
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 10/20
Statement of Opinion:
- At my age, I'm not sure how much this program will do for me. I hope there's support for older people who can't be as active as the younger ones.
- Community events sound like a good opportunity to get out and be a bit more active, but it depends on the local availability and acceptance.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 2 | 5 | 4 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
University Student (Seattle, WA)
Age: 22 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 4.0 years
Commonness: 12/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I think the LIFE Act could be very informative and provide resources that we don't usually cover in regular academic settings, but as a student my schedule is pretty tight already.
- If my campus could integrate this into its health services, that would make it more accessible for students.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 6 |
Software Developer (Atlanta, GA)
Age: 40 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 20.0 years
Commonness: 14/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Working at a desk all day is really tough on my weight. I hope the LIFE Act can offer things like workplace initiatives that encourage physical activity.
- Online education and intervention programs would really help me as I can incorporate them into my daily routine.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Construction Worker (Denver, CO)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 11/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I get enough exercise on my job, but diet is where I struggle. If the LIFE Act tackles nutrition more comprehensively, it could help me.
- Community-based initiatives sound promising, but my workload might limit my participation.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 5 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 5 |
Event Planner (Miami, FL)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 15.0 years
Commonness: 13/20
Statement of Opinion:
- In my job, being health-conscious is increasingly important but tough. I think having more awareness from the LIFE Act will help.
- Workplace support and community events are key—I see it becoming a more integral part of our lifestyle, especially in a city like Miami.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 7 |
| Year 20 | 9 | 7 |
Chef (Chicago, IL)
Age: 55 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 9/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Being a chef, I love food, but I know I need to focus on healthier choices. The LIFE Act might bring new ideas that I can also integrate into my cooking.
- Community workshops or culinary gatherings around healthier cooking could be beneficial.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 6 |
High School Senior (Phoenix, AZ)
Age: 19 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 6.0 years
Commonness: 17/20
Statement of Opinion:
- I hope to learn more about nutrition and exercise from this act, but I'm not sure how much it will affect me until I leave for college.
- If there are programs for families, that might help us all make healthier choices.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 5 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $1000000000 (Low: $800000000, High: $1200000000)
Year 2: $900000000 (Low: $700000000, High: $1100000000)
Year 3: $850000000 (Low: $600000000, High: $1050000000)
Year 5: $800000000 (Low: $550000000, High: $1000000000)
Year 10: $750000000 (Low: $500000000, High: $950000000)
Year 100: $0 (Low: $0, High: $0)
Key Considerations
- The initial establishment phase of the program is cost-intensive but necessary to ensure widespread capability building.
- The integration of training, education, and intervention strategies are critical to the success and sustainability of the program.
- Long-term success will depend on consistent funding and adaptation to new scientific findings in obesity prevention and treatment.
- Engagement with workplaces and community settings requires careful consideration of local demographics and socioeconomic factors.