• Contemporary ClinicContemporary Clinic
  • OTC GuideOTC Guide
  • Pharmacy Times
  • PTCEPTCE
  • Pharmacist Moms GroupPharmacist Moms Group
News
All News
FDA Updates
Press Releases
Media
All Videos
Digital Detail
Independent Corner
Insights
Interviews
MEDcast
Medical World News
Microsites
Peer Exchange
Perfect Consult
Podcasts
Practice Pearls
Sponsored Webcast
Student Voices
Webinars/Webcasts
Conferences
Conference Coverage
Conference Listing
Publications
Pharmacy Times
Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology
Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems
Pharmacy Careers
All Publications
About the Publications
Author Submission
Submit to Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology
Submit to Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems
Become a Peer Reviewer
Supplements & Featured Publications
Clinical
503B Compounding Pharmacy
ADHD
Allergy
Alzheimer Disease
Anxiety
Asthma
Atopic Dermatitis
Biosimilars
Bipolar Disorder
Brain Health
Breast Cancer
C. Difficile
COPD
Cardiovascular Health
Cervical Cancer
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholesterol
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Classical Hematology
Colorectal Cancer
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Coronavirus
Cough and Cold
Depression
Dermatology
Diabetes
Digestive Health
Dry Eye Disease
Epilepsy
Eye Care
Flu
Future of Pharmacy
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Health
Gout
HER2 Breast Cancer
HIV
Heart Failure
Hematology
Hepatitis/MASH
IVIG
Immunization
Immuno-oncology
Infectious Disease
Lung Cancer
Lymphoma
Macular Degeneration
Mental Health
Migraine
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Sclerosis
Myelofibrosis
Neurology
Neutropenia
Osteoporosis
Ovarian Cancer
Pain Management
Parkinson Disease
Pediatrics
Pharmacy Heroes
Pharmacy Management
Pneumococcal
PrEP
Prostate Cancer
Psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psychedelics
Reimbursement
Reproductive Health
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Shingles
Skin Cancer
Sleep
Travel Vaccines
Veterinary Pharmacy
Vitamins and Supplements
Weight Management
Women's Health
Events
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Webinars
CE
Resources
Clinical Forum
Cou-Co
Educated Patient
Information for the Pharmacist
Interactive Tools
Partners
Sponsored
Whiteboards
Subscribe
logo
Spotlight
Community/RetailHospitalOncologyPharmacy TechnicianStudent
Clinical Role
Community/RetailHospitalOncologyPharmacy TechnicianSpecialty PharmacyStudent
Clinical
CoronavirusBrain HealthCardiovascular HealthDermatologyDiabetesFluHeart FailureHepatitis/MASHImmunizationMigrainePneumococcalVitamins and Supplements
Supplement Spotlight
October 2023 Pharmacy Technician Edition
All News
FDA Updates
Press Releases
All Videos
Digital Detail
Independent Corner
Insights
Interviews
MEDcast
Medical World News
Microsites
Peer Exchange
Perfect Consult
Podcasts
Practice Pearls
Sponsored Webcast
Student Voices
Webinars/Webcasts
Conference Coverage
Conference Listing
Pharmacy Times
Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology
Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems
Pharmacy Careers
All Publications
About the Publications
Author Submission
Submit to Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Oncology
Submit to Pharmacy Practice in Focus: Health Systems
Become a Peer Reviewer
Supplements & Featured Publications
503B Compounding Pharmacy
ADHD
Allergy
Alzheimer Disease
Anxiety
Asthma
Atopic Dermatitis
Biosimilars
Bipolar Disorder
Brain Health
Breast Cancer
C. Difficile
COPD
Cardiovascular Health
Cervical Cancer
Cholangiocarcinoma
Cholesterol
Chronic Kidney Disease
Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
Classical Hematology
Colorectal Cancer
Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Coronavirus
Cough and Cold
Depression
Dermatology
Diabetes
Digestive Health
Dry Eye Disease
Epilepsy
Eye Care
Flu
Future of Pharmacy
Gastrointestinal Cancer
Gastrointestinal Health
Gout
HER2 Breast Cancer
HIV
Heart Failure
Hematology
Hepatitis/MASH
IVIG
Immunization
Immuno-oncology
Infectious Disease
Lung Cancer
Lymphoma
Macular Degeneration
Mental Health
Migraine
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple Sclerosis
Myelofibrosis
Neurology
Neutropenia
Osteoporosis
Ovarian Cancer
Pain Management
Parkinson Disease
Pediatrics
Pharmacy Heroes
Pharmacy Management
Pneumococcal
PrEP
Prostate Cancer
Psoriasis
Psoriatic Arthritis
Psychedelics
Reimbursement
Reproductive Health
Respiratory Syncytial Virus
Rheumatoid Arthritis
Schizophrenia
Shingles
Skin Cancer
Sleep
Travel Vaccines
Veterinary Pharmacy
Vitamins and Supplements
Weight Management
Women's Health
Upcoming Events
Upcoming Webinars
CE
Clinical Forum
Cou-Co
Educated Patient
Information for the Pharmacist
Interactive Tools
Partners
Sponsored
Whiteboards
Subscribe
Advertisement

CLINICAL ROLE -

Community/Retail
| Hospital
| Oncology
| Pharmacy Technician
| Student

Article

August 29, 2022

Expert: Whole Government, Whole Country Approach Needed to End Diet-related Diseases

Author(s):

Alana Hippensteele, Lead Editor
Conference|NACDS Total Store Expo - National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo

Catherine Oakar, special assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities in the Domestic Policy Council at The White House, discusses plans to address diet-related diseases in a conference held at The White House in September 2022.

The prevalence of diet-related diseases is a core issue facing the country today, explained Catherine Oakar, special assistant to the President for Public Health and Disparities in the Domestic Policy Council at The White House, during a session at the 2022 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo. With preventable diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes, remaining the leading causes of death and disability, there remain core issues underlying the prevalence of these preventable diseases that must be addressed to progress the wellbeing of all people, according to Oakar.1

“Heart disease is a number one killer and diabetes is running rampant. I think if I asked everyone to raise their hand who has a family member with diabetes or high blood pressure, everybody in this room would raise their hands,” Oakar said. “Both my parents have had heart attacks, so this is a very personal issue for me, and I suspect it is for so many others. So we cannot wait to act.”1

As a member of the Domestic Policy Council, Oakar and her colleagues drive President Biden’s domestic agenda throughout the country. With a core element of that agenda being public health and wellbeing, the Domestic Policy Council convened The White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health, which is set to take place at the end of September 2022, according to Oakar.1

This conference will gather stakeholders in both the public and private sectors to support the implementation of a coordinated strategy to accelerate progress and change to not only address diet-related diseases, but also end hunger, improve nutrition and physical activity, and close disparities surrounding these issues.2

“Reducing disparities is really a big piece of the puzzle because we don’t want to make it better for some and leave others high and dry. This has to be a whole government, whole country approach,” Oakar said. “Also, many of the people who are affected by food insecurity are disproportionately affected by diabetes—and that’s unacceptable.”1

The first White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health was held in 1969, and ultimately impacted the country’s food policy agenda for the next 50 years. Due to the far-reaching impact of this event, the second White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health will be held with high hopes of providing programs and solutions to support real change, Oakar explained.1,2

“It’s been 50 years since the last conference. And for those of you who don’t live and breathe it like I do, it was a big deal conference. Things like SNAP, which is food stamps, or school meals all started with this conference. So it was really a galvanizing moment,” Oakar said. “Also, it was really focused on hunger at the time, and we’re certainly focused on that [this time], but we’re also acutely aware of how diet-related disease plays a role.”1

Oakar also noted that the development of this conference has been a bipartisan issue, with members of Congress from both sides of the aisle calling for it to take place. In light of the widespread support for this effort, the Domestic Policy Council worked alongside several other organizations within the Federal government, such as the CDC and FDA, in order to develop a plan for the focus and content of the conference.1,2

“We are doing this conference because millions of people are suffering from food insecurity. They don’t know where their next meal will come from, they’re skipping meals, or they’re worried about how they’re going to put food on the table,” Oakar said.1

With this in mind, the organizations involved set the primary goal of the conference as ending hunger and increasing healthy eating and physical activity by 2030, which will ultimately lead to fewer Americans suffering from diet-related diseases, such as diabetes, obesity, and hypertension.2

“We wish everybody could be in the room, but we recognize that we can’t have everyone there, so know that it will be live streamed for anyone who wants to watch,” Oakar said.1

REFERENCES

  1. Oakar C, Anderson SC, Lindholz C, Nightengale B, Shah R. Health & Wellness Innovation Across Diverse Communities. Boston, MA: 2022 National Association of Chain Drug Stores Total Store Expo; August 27, 2022.
  2. The White House. White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition, and Health. The White House website. Last updated June 1, 2022. Accessed August 28, 2022. https://health.gov/our-work/nutrition-physical-activity/white-house-conference-hunger-nutrition-and-health/conference-details
Related Videos
Happy elderly patient with medical health checkup with cardiologist or geriatric doctor. Senior old aging woman with coronary artery heart disease or cardiac illness check-up in clinic - Image credit: Chinnapong | stock.adobe.com
Pharmacist and patient in a retail/community pharmacy setting -- Image credit: Zamrznuti tonovi | stock.adobe.com
Menoapuse spelled with wooden blocks -- Image credit: loran4a | stock.adobe.com
Related Content
Advertisement
Plaque buildup in artery | Image Credit: © SK imagine - stock.adobe.com
May 8th 2025

Obicetrapib Plus Ezetimibe Reduced LDL-C in Patients With or at Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Alexandra Gerlach, Associate Editor
Pharmacists Can Be At the Forefront of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Management
May 6th 2025

Pharmacists Can Be At the Forefront of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Management

Aislinn Antrim, Managing Editor Craig Beavers, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, BCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CACP
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC USA
May 8th 2025

Coalition of Pharmacy Organizations Urges Congress to Pass ECAPS Legislation

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
Pharmacy Focus: Integrating SBIRT in Pharmacies to Combat Substance Use Disorder
March 31st 2025

Pharmacy Focus: Integrating SBIRT in Pharmacies to Combat Substance Use Disorder

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
GLP-1 and Side Effects newspaper headlines with magnifying glass
May 8th 2025

Asembia AXS25: Navigating the Transformative Landscape of GLP-1 Medications

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
Wegovy injection pen | Image Credit: © Patrick Bay Damsted - stock.adobe.com
May 7th 2025

GLP-1 Drugs Show Promise in Lowering Health Care Costs, Report Says

Alexandra Gerlach, Associate Editor
Related Content
Advertisement
Plaque buildup in artery | Image Credit: © SK imagine - stock.adobe.com
May 8th 2025

Obicetrapib Plus Ezetimibe Reduced LDL-C in Patients With or at Risk of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease

Alexandra Gerlach, Associate Editor
Pharmacists Can Be At the Forefront of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Management
May 6th 2025

Pharmacists Can Be At the Forefront of Cardio-Kidney-Metabolic Management

Aislinn Antrim, Managing Editor Craig Beavers, PharmD, FACC, FAHA, FCCP, BCCP, BCPS-AQ Cardiology, CACP
U.S. House of Representatives, Washington, DC USA
May 8th 2025

Coalition of Pharmacy Organizations Urges Congress to Pass ECAPS Legislation

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
Pharmacy Focus: Integrating SBIRT in Pharmacies to Combat Substance Use Disorder
March 31st 2025

Pharmacy Focus: Integrating SBIRT in Pharmacies to Combat Substance Use Disorder

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
GLP-1 and Side Effects newspaper headlines with magnifying glass
May 8th 2025

Asembia AXS25: Navigating the Transformative Landscape of GLP-1 Medications

Luke Halpern, Assistant Editor
Wegovy injection pen | Image Credit: © Patrick Bay Damsted - stock.adobe.com
May 7th 2025

GLP-1 Drugs Show Promise in Lowering Health Care Costs, Report Says

Alexandra Gerlach, Associate Editor
Consent Preferences
About Us
Clinical Forums
Advertise
Contact Us
Editorial Staff
Privacy Policy
Terms & Conditions
Do Not Sell My Information
Contact Info

2 Commerce Drive
Cranbury, NJ 08512

609-716-7777

© 2025 MJH Life Sciences

All rights reserved.