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CONTACT: Stephanie Marquis, 608-266-1683
NEW REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WISCONSIN'S OBESITY PROBLEM
Communities Are Encouraged to Help Reverse the Trend
MADISON - At least half the adults in every county in Wisconsin
are either overweight or obese, according to a new state report. The new
Department of Health Services report, Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical
Activity in Wisconsin, indicates that the obesity rate for adults in the
state has more than doubled since 1990, reflecting a nationwide trend.
“Obesity is an epidemic not only in Wisconsin, but across the whole
country,” said Secretary Karen Timberlake. “Reversing this harmful
trend in Wisconsin would likely save more than a billion dollars annually
in medical costs, but it will require the involvement of organizations and
communities across the state. All of us – teachers, parents, businesses,
and government employees – have a stake in turning these trends around.”
Many of the behaviors that help prevent obesity and maintain healthy
body weight are already well known. Eating more fruits and vegetables,
being more physically active, breastfeeding infants, limiting television
viewing time, and curbing consumption of calorie-rich foods and
sugar-sweetened drinks can all help reduce weight.
However, fewer people realize that communities and organizations also
need to make changes that will help people be more active and choose
healthier foods. Examples of community efforts to foster healthy behaviors
include:
- Implementing a wellness program at your worksite. Employers
may be eligible for the Governor’s Worksite Award, which recognizes
organizations that promote a work environment that encourages and
enables their employees to improve their health and well-being. To get
started, use the Worksite Wellness Resource Kit available on the
Department’s website.
- Creating opportunities for people to easily walk and bike.
Open a school or shopping center for walking. You can complete a
walkability or bikability assessment in your neighborhood from the
Department’s Active Community Environments Resource Kit.
- Improving the nutrition environment in your community. Start
a community garden or farmers’ market; explore opportunities to
promote farm-to-institution (schools, worksites, hospitals)
initiatives to improve access to fruits and vegetables; implement
nutrition standards for public vending machines to offer healthy
choices; provide nutrition information (calories, fat, sodium) for
consumers at the point of purchase in vending machines, cafeterias,
restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores.
- Promoting and supporting breastfeeding in your community.
Pass a local ordinance that supports a woman’s right to breastfeed
and provide areas for breastfeeding women to care for their children
at local fairs and events and other public spaces; implement a
worksite lactation program to support women returning to work.
- Promoting wellness at your school. Apply for the Governor’s
School Health Award, which promotes healthy eating, physical activity,
alcohol and drug-free lifestyles, and parental and community
involvement; get involved with your school’s wellness committee to
work on improving healthy food availability on the school campus
(school stores, fundraising, vending, a la carte) and opportunities
for physical activity; start a school garden; start a Safe Routes to
School Program to encourage children to walk to school.
The Department has its Wisconsin Nutrition and Physical Activity
State Plan, along with a variety of toolkits and other resources for
Wisconsin communities, schools, worksites, child care centers, healthcare
organizations, and other groups to use on its website at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/physicalactivity/index.htm
A copy of the Obesity, Nutrition, and Physical Activity in Wisconsin
full report and executive summary are also available on that site.
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Last Revised: July 15, 2009 |
