Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity

Community Health Status Indicators | Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity | Tobacco Use Prevention and Control | Oral Health

Boards of health are responsible for assuring the provision of adequate public health services in their communities. Proper nutrition and regular physical activity are essential to good health and disease prevention. A board’s role is to assess a community’s health needs and concerns and develop or recommend policies, procedures, and programs to meet those needs.

Over two-thirds of adults and one-third of children in America are obese or at risk for obesity. Boards of health are in a position to help reverse this epidemic. Boards have the ability to identify the policy and environmental changes that lead to increased physical activity and better nutrition, and are able to support the advocacy that will result in the adoption of such policies.

New! Community Health SPOTLIGHT for November

National Diabetes Awareness Month

After only 2 years, the number of Americans affected by diabetes has increased by 3 million. Today, approximately 24 million people have diabetes, and another 57 million individuals are pre-diabetic. With the prevalence of the disease increasing rapidly, boards of health need to be aware of the following key initiatives that could help improve the health of individuals in their local community:

Diabetes self-management education programs offered at community centers, faith organizations, and libraries are effective at helping participants reduce their blood sugar levels.
Care focused on the spectrum of the disease and related complications can prevent other comorbid conditions.
Case managers are useful resources in coordinating and implementing care for individuals.

For more information about diabetes, please click here.

Did You Know..

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Announces New Physical Activity Guidelines

Recommendations have been released by Health and Human Services about physical activity levels for Americans of all ages. Guidelines include adults exercising 2.5 hours per week and children being active for a minimum of one hour per day. For a complete listing of guidelines on specific age groups, please click here.

Report Released Shows Beverage Companies Adhere to National School Beverage Guidelines

According to a recent report, nearly 80% of schools that have contracts with beverage companies are in full compliance with the national guidelines. This percentage exceeded the national goal of 75% compliance for the 2008-2009 school year. The report also noted that schools have changed their current beverage selection to only include water, diet soda, and "portion-controlled sports drinks." To read more about the report and its findings, please click here.

NACo's Healthy Counties Database

This month, the National Association of Counties (NACo) released the "Healthy Counties Database," a new resource designed to help county officials prevent childhood obesity in their communities. The database contains more than 100 profiles of model policies, programs, and initiatives that counties across the nation have enacted to promote healthy living. Click here to learn more!

In the News

New! Yum! Brands Fast Food Restaurants Will Post Calorie Contents on Menu Boards Nationwide

New! YMCA Campaigning for Children and Parents to Exercise

School-Based Interventions Can Increase Vegetable and Fruit Intake Among Children

The Health Leadership Network (HLN) in California Aims to Reduce Childhood Obesity Through Nutrition and Fitness

Shape Up America! Recommends That Schools Promote Intramural Sports to Increase Physical Activity

Mark Your Calendars!

November 12, 2008: Call for Proposals Due for 2009 American Dietetic Association's Food and Nutrition Conference and Expo. www.eatright.org/cps/rde/xchg/ada/hs.xsl/education_17592_ENU_HTML.htm

February 23-25, 2009: 20th National Conference on Chronic Disease Prevention and Control in National Harbor, MD. www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/conference/index.htm

June 9-12, 2009: Childhood Obesity Conference in Los Angeles, CA. www.cnr.berkeley.edu/cwh/activities/conferences.shtml