Healthy Eating and Active Living: the CDC’s Public Health Approach to Preventing and Reducing Obesity

CDR Heidi Blanck, PhDChief, Obesity Prevention and Control Branch

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and ObesityNational Center for Chronic Disease Prevention & Health Promotion

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

Healthy Schools June 2011 Aruba PACO

HHS

The findings presented are those of the presenter and not the official views of the CDC.

Department of Health & Human Services

HHS Healthy Weight Task Force

Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity (DNPAO)

Vision: A world where regular physical activity, good nutrition, and a healthy weight are a part of everyone’s life

Mission: Lead strategic public health efforts to prevent and control obesity, chronic disease and other health conditions through physical activity and good nutrition

2005

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 2000, 2005, 2009

(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

2009

2000

$147 Billion = Obesity Associated Health Care Spending, 2008 estimates

Obesity Statistics

• More than one in six (17%) U.S. children is obese, three times the rate in the 1970’s (BMI at or above the 95% percentile of the sex-specific BMI-for-age growth charts)

• According to 2007-2008 data, disparities exist among youth with higher prevalence among minority racial/ethnic groups including Mexican American boys (27%) and Black girls (29%) aged 12-19 y

http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/hestat/obesity_child_07_08/obesity_child_07_08.htm

Message: Obesity is Common, Costly, and Serious

2008

Age-adjusted Percentage of U.S. Adults Who Were Obese or Who Had Diagnosed Diabetes

Obesity (BMI ≥30 kg/m2)

Diabetes

1994

1994

2000

2000

No Data <14.0% 14.0-17.9% 18.0-21.9% 22.0-25.9% >26.0%

No Data <4.5% 4.5-5.9% 6.0-7.4% 7.5-8.9% >9.0%

CDC’s Division of Diabetes Translation. National Diabetes Surveillance System available at http://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/statistics

2008

“Obesity is a major public health problem. We need intensive and ongoing efforts to address obesity or more people will get sick and die from complications of obesity, such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.”

“Not only are the cost of obesity high…, but in addition, the economic cost are high. In 2008 medical dollars, medical cost associated with obesity were estimated at 147 billion.”

“Six things can reduce or prevent obesity.” 1. Physical activity. 2. Increase the uptake and continuation of breast feeding. 3. Increase fruit and vegetable intake. 4. Reduce screen time. 5. Reduce high-calorie food intake, in particular, sugary drinks.

National news teleconference

Public Health Approach: Focus On Supportive Environments

Difficult to make a healthy choice in an unhealthy environment

Working to support families in being able to have healthy choices

Multi-level, Multi-sector Prevention

Making Healthy Choices Easier

Environment • Affordability• Access, availability• Placement • Marketing

• Culture• Skills • Knowledge• Time• Preferences

Individual

Healthy eating & physical

activity

Environment

Principal Target Areas for Obesity Prevention

• Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables• Increase breastfeeding initiation, duration, and

exclusivity• Increase physical activity

• Decrease television viewing and screentime• Decrease consumption of high energy dense foods of

low-nutrient value• Decrease consumption of sugar drinks

Settings for the Prevention Childhood Obesity• Community

• School• Child Care

• Medical /hospitals• Worksite - family

CDC Guidance Documents: Policy and Environmental Strategies for State and Communities

Guidance Documents– Fruits & Vegetables– Energy Density– Sugar Sweetened Beverages– Breastfeeding – Physical Activity– Television Viewing

Evidence-based strategies

• Promising• Emerging• Effective

• Research-tested, Practice-basedwww.center-trt.org

• Reach, impact, sustainability/maintenance

Strategies to Increase Fruit and Vegetable Access, Availability, and Consumption

1. Food Policy Coalitions as a Means to Improve the Food Environment 2. Access to Retail Venues that Sell Fruits and Vegetables in Underserved

Communities3. Farm-to-Where-You-Are Programs in All Possible Venues4. Ready Access to Fruits and Vegetables in Worksite Foodservice,

Meetings and Events5. Community and Home Gardens6. Policies to Incorporate Fruit and Vegetable Activities into Schools and

Early learning centers/child care7. Include Fruits and Vegetables in Emergency Food Programs

7 Strategies: Reducing Sugar Drink Consumption

1. Ensure ready access to potable drinking water2. Limit access to Sugar Drinks3. Promote access to and consumption of more healthful

alternatives to Sugar Drinks4. Limit marketing of Sugar Drinks and minimize marketing’s

impact on children5. Decrease the relative cost of more healthful beverage

alternatives through differential pricing of Sugar Drinks6. Include screening and counseling about Sugar Drink

consumption as part of routine medical care7. Expand the knowledge and skills of medical care providers to

conduct nutrition screening and counseling on Sugar Drink consumption

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Strategy : Ensure ready access to potable drinking water

• To promote water consumption, potable (clean, good tasting) drinking water should be easily accessible to children and adults in homes and public facilities, including parks, playgrounds, schools, child cares, public buildings, worksites, and clinics

18

Child Care-Based Program Example

• New York City’s Nutritional Standards for Child Care– Code requires that potable drinking water be made easily

accessible throughout the day, including at meals

– City code prohibits providing beverages with added sweeteners, whether artificial or natural

– Limit screentime/television viewing– Support breastfeeding, pumping, use of breastmilkSpring 2011: USDA Guidance for Schools – Compliance Fall

2011, low-fat/reduced fat milk, water during mealtime

Strategy 1: Ensure ready access to potable drinking water

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School-Based Program Examples• Nutrition standards, meals and snacks• Water access• Food and activity as rewards

– Candy, treats, limiting activity• Joint use agreements

– Allow community members to take part in physical activity, school gardens, cooking/culinary training, making meals for family as part of aftercare programs

• Reduction in advertising on school campus

Strategy: Promote access to and consumption of more healthful alternatives to Sugar Drinks

20

CDC Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to

Prevent Obesity

http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/downloads/community_strategies_guide.pdf

Other Youth Settings --

National Park Service - Healthy and sustainable food guidelines Vendors contracts – canteens, vending

machines, stores, restaurants Water fountains, refillable water stations Model for small, local parks and open spacesHealthy Parks, Healthy People

Multi-sector, Multi-level Actions

• Champions and civic engagement– What can empowered youth do?– What can parents do?– What can teachers, coaches?– What can employers, business leaders do?

• Making public health policy, public policy• Co-benefits – improved school attendance

inproved academic, improved jobs/economy; improved mental health/self-esteem

Improving healthy eating and activity living is a

shared responsibility. Social and environmental

changes are influenced by the efforts of many…

www.cdc.gov/dnpao

U.S. FTC Marketing Principles

• U.S. Interagency workgroup, FTC Nutrition Marketing Principles, Voluntary

• Nutrient standards for foods marketed to kids• Open comment period