LAS VEGAS--We can debate the Patient Protection and AffordableCare Act all we want. But the truth is, the massive health care lawreally isn't going to make a difference on our nation's health ifwe don't first address chronic health conditions.

That was the message from Dr. Mehmet Oz during a keynote sessionWednesday at the Society for Human Resource Management annualconference.

Obesity--and its accompanying diseases such as diabetes and highblood pressure, he said, is the biggest health issue addressing thenation--and people in the workplace have a bigresponsibility to help combat it.

"If we don't deal with obesity, there is no health care planthat will work," he told a standing-room only audience of nearly16,000 people. "If we can get away from this political battle anddeal with these issues and what really matters...only after thatwill it make a difference."

Research continually points to obesity becoming a growing epidemic,especially in the United States. According to the latest researchfrom the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis,more than two-thirds of Americans are now either obese oroverweight.

But the good news is we are capable of handling it with a littleeffort, Oz said.

Simple behaviors and habits are the key to battling chronicdiseases such as diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure, hesaid. And it begins with going to the doctor, getting checkups andgetting simple blood tests that detect these diseases.

"We need to talk about [battling these] issues earlier. We needto take this chronic issue and make a change. Once people know thisstuff, people translate into action pretty quickly."

Among his tips for preventing illness, and getting healthier, isregular exercise ("All you need to do is walk around," he said."There is a big difference of walking steps at work, two flights ofstairs and doing nothing"); getting at least 7 to 7.5 hours ofsleep each night; eat healthily and smartly;curtail addictions (smoking; drinking too much and not watchingwhat you eat); and control stress.

"[Being and looking healthy] is not about how you look like inthe mirror," Oz said. "It builds your ability to thrivementally."

He said there is an inherit connection between physical andmental health.

"Weight is a barometer of how people cope with stress," Oz said.People need to deal with stress to also deal with their physicalhealth, he said.

Oz stressed the importance of HR professionals in promotinghealth and wellness to employees.

"You have the opportunity to help," he said. "It's worth thefight."