CDC backpedals on obesity report

The Centers for Disease Control appears to be backing away from a controversial report released in April which concludes that obesity poses fewer health risks than earlier estimates had suggested. The April CDC analysis, which raised eyebrows in health policy circles across the country, concluded that obesity claims only 25,000 lives per year, as opposed to an earlier estimate of about 385,000.

Many prominent researchers have since harshly criticized the report. In a press conference on Thursday, CDC head Dr. Julie Gerberding said the agency recognizes the danger which obesity poses. "Obesity and overweight are critically important health threats in this country," Gerberding said. "They have many adverse consequences." 

- see this story from the Associated Press

PLUS: In what appeared to be a signal, the CDC announced yesterday that it has sent a team to West Virginia to investigate the "outbreak" of obesity in the state, using "the same techniques it uses to respond to an outbreak of an infectious diseases." Story

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