High Obesity Program

CDC announces the availability of Fiscal Year (FY) 2018 funds to implement CDC-RFA-DP18-1809: High Obesity Program. The growing body of evidence suggests that obesity is one of the most significant challenges facing the public health system. If this continues, obesity and the many complications it causes will increase the disease burden in the United States. Poor nutrition and low levels of physical activity affect overall health and are significant risk factors for obesity and other chronic diseases. Obesity in the United States affects 78.6 million (35%) adults and 12.7 million (17%) children and accounts for approximately $147 billion in annual health care costs. The burden of obesity and other chronic diseases negatively affects our nation's businesses, economy, and military readiness and is higher among certain racial/ethnic populations and geographical locations.This five-year program provides resources for land grant universities to leverage community extension services to implement evidence-based strategies that increase access to places that provide healthier foods and safe and accessible places for physical activity in counties with an adult obesity rate of over 40%.