White House report on heart health: impressive accomplishments

The White House has issued a report on the Obama administration’s accomplishments in addressing heart disease: “Making Health Care Better.”

The good news is that heart disease mortality has been falling steadily since 2009.

But let’s put this in context.  Here’s the long-term trend.  Impressive!

The report gives reasons why—mainly less cigarette smoking and better health care coverage.  Where nutrition fits into this is curious.  The increasing prevalence of obesity has no obvious effect on long-term trends.  Perhaps the decline would faster without it?

In any case, the White House report points to several of its nutrition initiatives:

• The new Nutrition Facts label with added sugars and updated serving sizes
• Calorie labels on fast food menus
• Calorie labels on vending machines
• Guidance to industry for voluntary sodium reduction
• Healthier school breakfasts and lunches
• And everything else that Let’s Move! has done.

There’s more to be done, but these are steps in the right direction.