Archived Publications
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Announce State Grants to Fight Obesity, Chronic
Diseases
Through Nutrition and Physical Activity
Six states recently were awarded CDC funds for establishing "State Nutrition and Physical Activity Programs to Prevent Obesity and Related Chronic Diseases." The Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity at CDC is pleased to work with the following states on this program.
The purpose of the program is to prevent and control obesity and related chronic diseases by supporting States in the development and implementation of nutrition and physical activity interventions, particularly through population-based strategies such as policy-level change, environmental supports, and the social marketing planning process. Each of the awarded States below will (a) develop a plan for the priority population(s) they select, (b) develop appropriate internal and external partnerships to carry out the plan, and (c) develop, conduct, and evaluate nutrition and physical activity intervention projects in the population(s).
For more information about these projects, contact Sarah Kuester, Public Health Nutritionist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Email: sak2@cdc.gov
California
Program Contact: Curtiss Weidmer CWeidmer@dhs.ca.gov
The California Department of Health Services, in partnership with other state, and local organizations, proposes to develop, implement, and evaluate a unified and coordinated statewide obesity prevention initiative designed to successfully address the societal, technological, and environmental influences that favor sedentary living, unhealthy eating, overweight and obesity. The proposed mission of the initiative will be to reduce the incidence of youth (<18 years) obesity in the state. The State Planning Group will create the California Obesity Prevention Advisory Group, use social marketing principles to identify one or more priority populations within the state youth population, complete a California Obesity Prevention Plan, conduct at least two pilot interventions, offer training opportunities to state staff and collaborative partners, and scrutinize existing data sources to ensure that they address the goals of the obesity initiative.
Connecticut
Program Contact: Nancy Berger nancy.berger@po.state.ct.us
The Connecticut Department of Public Health through its Bureau of Community Health proposes to create the Connecticut Obesity Prevention and Control Program to be integrated into the Nutrition and Physical Activity Section of the Division of Health Education and Intervention. A June 2000 statewide forum addressed issues, resources, barriers and strategies related to obesity prevention and control. The State will (1) develop, implement, and evaluate a state strategic plan for obesity prevention and control developed through workgroups and committees of at least 20 collaborating partners, (2) design an obesity surveillance system for Connecticut, and (3) develop viable population-based pilot interventions that address obesity prevention and control through the life cycle.
Massachusetts
Program Contact: Maria Bettencourt Maria.Bettencourt@state.ma.us
Massachusetts proposes an Obesity Prevention and Control Initiative in order to address obesity in youth through school-based nutrition and physical activity interventions. The state will (1) establish a coordinated statewide infrastructure to address obesity prevention in youth, resulting in a state plan that emphasizes environmental, policy, and social marketing approaches; (2) enhance current surveillance systems, especially among youth; and (3) develop an obesity prevention intervention for youth, utilizing environmental, policy, and social marketing approaches to improve nutrition and physical activity patterns. The state will conduct formative research with youth and families, assess school and community policies and environmental strengths and barriers to develop a comprehensive strategic approach to address obesity. They will work with schools that have school-based health centers and enhanced school health services to develop a scientifically valid surveillance system. These schools are proposed as pilot sites for interventions in the second and third year of the grant period.
North Carolina
Program Contact: Janice Lebeuf Janice.Lebeuf@ncmail.net
The North Carolina Child and Adolescent Overweight Prevention Initiative has six broad goals, which are to:
- Enhance the state infrastructure related to prevention of overweight and obesity in children,
- develop a strategic state plan for reducing the prevalence of overweight in children 2 – 18,
- enhance the North Carolina Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System and other data sources related to nutrition, physical activity and overweight/obesity,
- develop a policy intervention focusing on the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children (WIC) and the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP),
- develop environmental support for improved nutrition and physical activity in child care, and
- strengthen family interventions in WIC, CACFP and pre-school settings through a coordinated nutrition and physical education initiative.
Rhode Island
Program Contact: Kathy Cullinen kathyc@doh.state.ri.us
The Rhode Island Department of Health will establish a state infrastructure to plan, implement and evaluate integrated nutrition and physical activity programs in priority communities. In the first year a Planning Council will develop a state plan for obesity utilizing the CDCynergy tool, community assessments, formative evaluation activities, and assessments to identify priority populations. A social marketing planning approach will be used to develop behavioral and environmental interventions to be implemented and evaluated in the second and third years of the program. A statewide Obesity Control Information Library and Database will be created as a resource for planning and monitoring program effectiveness.
Texas
Program Contact: Claire Heiser Claire.Heiser@tdh.state.tx.us
The Texas Department of Health will conduct strategic planning activities to develop a state plan to prevent and control obesity and other related chronic diseases through nutrition and physical activity interventions. TDH has selected Texas families with school-aged children as their initial target population. The State will:
- Identify and describe the target population with aggregation into the smallest possible distinct segment with an emphasis on health disparities,
- complete an inventory of existing surveillance data sources and identify data needs and methods of obtaining data to insure appropriate monitoring of the proposed statewide obesity plan during years 2 and 3,
- describe current community resources and gaps and socioeconomic and environmental influences/barriers that affect target populations' nutrition and physical activity patterns,
- utilize a statewide taskforce committee of multiple diverse partners to develop a statewide plan, and
- plan and implement pilot interventions.
