Obesity

Obesity is the second leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Only smoking exceeds obesity in contributing to the total U.S. death rates. The number and percentage of overweight or obese persons in Utah and the U.S. has increased over the past 10 years. Adults who are obese are also at a greater risk of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems and endometrial, breast, prostrate and colon cancer.

There are a large number of factors that contribute to overweight and obesity, so, dealing with this issue requires a number of different approaches. It is a personal responsibility, a community responsibility, and a school responsibility.

Personal

• 5 A Day
• Weight Management
• Healthy Weight - Harvard School of Public Health
• Physical Activity
• www.checkyourhealth.org
• www.eatright.org
• Surgeon General's Call to Action on Obesity: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/toc.htm

Community

• Action for Healthy Kids: http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/index.htm
• Physical Activity and Nutrition in Schools
• Making Communities bike friendly and walkable: www.bikewalk.org
• Walkable Communities: www.walkable.org
• Surgeon General's Call to Action on Obesity: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/toc.htm
• To apply to be a healthy community or worksite: A Healthier You
• Walking Activities:
  Utah Walks - trails and walking site in Utah
  Walk Your Child To School

School

• 5 A Day
• Action for Healthy Kids: http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/index.htm
• Gold Medal School Initiative
• Obesity in Utah
• Obesity trends in U.S., CDC maps: http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/trend/index.htm
• Physical Activity and Nutrition in Schools
• Surgeon General's Call to Action on Obesity: http://www.surgeongeneral.gov/topics/obesity/calltoaction/toc.htm
• Utah Height and Weight Study
• Walk to School: www.walktoschool.org

Other helpful links:

• Obesity in Utah

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