The national meeting of the American Medical Association concluded with several agreed on strategies for a wide range of health issues but some remained less settled according to a spokesperson for the medical group. One thing that was almost universally agreed upon, however was the need for increased education for school children in grades from one to twelve related to health and fitness, primarily obesity prevention. The AMA has agreed that any legislation that is introduced related to this education will be heartily welcomed and endorsed. Education will likely focus on the causes of obesity, the consequences that can happen and the best ways to prevent the issue from happening. In addition, the AMA is going to actively ask and encourage doctors, especially pediatricians to make themselves available for this education.

A less widely accepted topic was the use of taxes to pay for much of this educational effort. Those taxes would come from soft drinks but some of the delegates worried that it would penalize the poor and the disadvantaged to do this. Another delegate opined that it would not be beneficial to use taxes to force other to make choices for their own health, they need to make those choices on their own, rather than because they are being forced to do so.

Obesity numbers have stabilized at the moment, but the number they have reached are astronomically high. More than a third of the adults in the United States are currently obese. Twelve million kids are also obese. Statistically speaking, if education and prevention efforts are not successful the adult obesity numbers will once again skyrocket. The toll obesity is taken on health care is already reaching the billions of dollars and only looking to increase. Obesity is one of the prime risk factors for a number of serious, chronic conditions including diabetes, high blood pressure and others. Both diabetes and high blood pressure numbers in children have dramatically increased in recent years.

Obesity prevention and education may have topped the agenda but was far from the only topic discussed. In addition, the AMA discussed ways to deal with problems including cyberbullying and the steps needed to try to reduce the number of suicides in the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered community. The delegates also proposed that new drug courts be used to deal with nonviolent offenders rather than trying to fit them into already overcrowded jail and prison systems across the country.