- Feature #1 - BMI - Body Mass Index
- Feature #2 - Childhood Obesity
- Feature #3 - Healthy Weight
American society has become 'obesogenic,' characterized by environments that promote increased food intake, nonhealthful foods, and physical inactivity. Policy and environmental change initiatives that make healthy choices in nutrition and physical activity available, affordable, and easy will likely prove most effective in combating obesity.
The Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) is working to reduce obesity and obesity-related conditions through state programs, technical assistance and training, leadership, surveillance and research, intervention development and evaluation, translation of practice-based evidence and research findings, and partnership development.
Other Overweight and Obesity Topics
Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
Also available in a PDF version (PDF-375k)
This report contains 24 recommended obesity prevention strategies focusing on environmental and policy level change initiatives that can be implemented by local governments and school districts to promote healthy eating and active living.
To assist local governments, states, and policy makers implement the CDC recommended obesity prevention strategies and report on the associated measurements a detailed Implementation and Measurement Guide (PDF-2.5Mb) was developed. The guide includes measurement data protocols, a listing of useful resources, and examples of communities that successfully implemented each obesity prevention strategy.
Obesity Prevalence Among Low-Income, Preschool-Aged Children 1998–2008
One of 7 low-income, preschool-aged children is obese, but the obesity epidemic may be stabilizing.
New Obesity Data Shows Blacks Have the Highest Rates of Obesity
Blacks had 51 percent higher prevalence of obesity, and Hispanics had 21 percent higher obesity prevalence compared with whites.
CDC's LEAN Works!
Identifies science-based interventions that work to prevent and control obesity and provides the tools that employers need to take action.
The Web site provides a variety of resources to employers including an obesity cost-calculator where employers can input employee demographic data to estimate the total costs associated with obesity and determine annual obesity-related medical costs for their companies.
Weight Management Research to Practice Series
Designed to summarize the science on weight management topics for health professionals, this series provides summary documents appropriate for public health professionals, including implications for practice. In addition, each installment in the series will be accompanied by a tool geared toward a lay audience, which can be used by health professionals in practice.
Obesity At A Glance 2007- Halting the Epidemic by Making Health Easier (PDF-3.8Mb)
CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) is working to reduce obesity and obesity-related conditions through state programs, technical assistance and training, leadership, surveillance and research, intervention development and evaluation, translation of practice-based evidence and research findings, and partnership development.
Community Guide - Obesity Prevention
The Community Guide conducted systematic reviews of interventions of healthcare providers, schools, worksites and more.
Preventing Chronic Disease
The July issue of Preventing Chronic Disease (PCD) features research on childhood obesity and an editorial about the opportunities and challenges for CDC's National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention.
Obesity and Women Podcast (3:57)
This women's health podcast focuses on obesity in women and girls. It discusses obesity-related health risks and includes tips to help achieve and maintain a healthy weight.
Date Released: 5/11/2009
Make a Difference at Your School: Key Strategies to Prevent Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor for health conditions such as diabetes and is associated with problems such as poor self-esteem. The good news is that schools can help students and staff adopt healthy eating and physical activity behaviors that are the keys to preventing obesity.
Data and Statistics
During the past 20 years there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States. In 2008, only one state (Colorado) had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%. Thirty-two states had a prevalence equal to or greater than 25%; six of these states (Alabama, Mississippi, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia ) had a prevalence of obesity equal to or greater than 30%.
State-Based Programs
CDC's State-Based Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases
Created in 1999, the Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program (NPAO) currently works with 25 states to build lasting and comprehensive efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases through a variety of nutrition and physical activity strategies.
Other Healthy Lifestyle Topics
Please note: Some of these publications are available for download only as *.pdf files. These files require Adobe Acrobat Reader in order to be viewed. Please review the information on downloading and using Acrobat Reader software.
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