MMWR News Synopsis
Thursday, May 3, 2018
Health Care Provider Counseling for Weight Loss Among Adults with Arthritis and Overweight or Obesity – United States, 2002-2014
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
More than half of adults with arthritis and overweight or obesity are not receiving counseling from their health care provider for weight loss. Comprehensive behavioral counseling, including weight loss, physical activity, and self-management education, can improve the health of adults with arthritis. Weight loss among adults with arthritis and overweight or obesity can improve pain, function, mobility, and health-related quality of life and can reduce disability. From 2002 to 2014, the percentage of health care provider counseling for weight loss among overweight or obese adults with arthritis increased by more than 10 percentage points, from 35.1percent to 45.5 percent, thus meeting the Healthy People 2020 target of 45.3 percent. Still, more than half of adults with arthritis and overweight or obesity are not receiving provider counseling for weight loss. Such provider counseling may increase attempts and eventual success at weight loss. Bundling this with other health behavior counseling, including physical activity and self-management education, may further enhance these health benefits.
Progress Toward Measles Elimination – Western Pacific Region, 2013-2017
CDC Media Relations
404-639-3286
2017 saw the lowest rate of new measles cases ever recorded in the WHO Western Pacific Region, 5.2 per million population. However, outbreaks in several countries and an overall increase in cases between 2013 and 2016 indicate countries must continue to strengthen immunization systems, maintain high-quality surveillance, and improve outbreak response in order to achieve regional measles elimination. In 2017, rates of new measles cases in the WHO Western Pacific Region were lower than they have ever been, but recent outbreaks and a rise in cases shows more work needs to be done to completely eliminate the disease from the region. Measles cases decreased substantially in the WHO Western Pacific Region to a low of 5.9 per million population in 2012. During 2013–2016, however, measles cases rose sharply due to large-scale outbreaks in Mongolia, the Philippines, and Vietnam. There was also increased measles transmission in China. Cases rose from 19.2 cases per million population in 2013 to 68.9 in 2014. After controlling the outbreaks, cases in the region decreased to 5.2 per million in 2017, a new historic low. The recent measles resurgence demonstrates a need for collective efforts by countries to achieve high population immunity, strengthen immunization systems, maintain high-quality surveillance, and improve outbreak preparedness and response, so that measles can be eliminated from the region.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether diseases start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.
