An annual report recently released by the Trust for America’s Health (TFAH) shows that obesity rates have grown in 37 states over the past year. Why is this happening? The title of the report says it all: F as in Fat: How Obesity Policies are Failing in America.

TFAH’s state-by-state analysis of obesity rates and review of some federal and state programs revealed that although many promising programs have emerged, they are not preventing the spread of obesity. More than 25 percent of adults are obese in 28 states, while more than 20 percent of adults are obese in every state except Colorado. Moreover, not one state showed a decrease in numbers of obese people.

At the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), we couldn’t agree more with this report – our country’s obesity policies are failing. Grave circumstances and tremendous expenditures lie ahead if our policies continue to fail.

In 2006, ACSM convened a policy roundtable with national leaders dedicated to improving the public’s health. As a result, theses leaders called for a different health policy paradigm, a new national effort. This new paradigm concentrates on a particular lifestyle change for which the scientific evidence is proven to improve health and reduce chronic disease: The United States must take more coordinated, integrated and funded steps to increase levels of physical activity.

A national strategy to tackle obesity would be a rallying cry and a formal declaration of war against this epidemic, but the battle in this war will be fought at the community level. However, moving a community toward increasing physical activity, better nutrition and disease prevention involves an understanding of the individual and societal behaviors and social norms.

Perhaps our greatest teacher in the fight against obesity is our experience with tobacco. Through high-quality research, coordinated mobilization, legislative changes and impacting policy, we have been able to significantly slow down tobacco usage.

The key fundamentals for reducing obesity involve increasing awareness and motivation at the personal level, providing a built environment and resources that encourage physical activity, improving nutrition and preventing disease.

The ACSM American Fitness Index™ (AFI) data report measures the very same indicators that that the TFAH report recommends need to be addressed in a national obesity policy such as access to safe places for physical activity in communities; increasing access to affordable, nutritious foods; improving and enforcing physical education requirements; and access to disease-prevention programs.

We need a national obesity policy that is culturally and socially relevant, that reaches across socio-economic levels, and touches all ages. We need to get to the root of the problem with research and analysis like the AFI data report. We need to encourage programs aimed at creating an environment conducive to physical activity, improved nutrition and disease prevention.

With the promises of change upon us this election season, it’s time for a coordinated, integrated and funded national obesity policy.