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All Arkansans reach and maintain a healthy weight through a healthy lifestyle.

Strategies and Measurable Objectives

In 2019-2020, the ADH recruited over 70 partners from within the Agency and outside to form an initial planning team to identify state health improvement areas and develop ideas for strategies and objectives within each area. During phase one, the planning team formed workgroups and determined eight priority areas for the state level health improvement. Each priority area is presented as a Result (R) in the Result section of this Scorecard. 

Phase two had consisted of working on the ideas for strategies and objectives and later formalizing the ideas for approval. However, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, phase two was substantially delayed. In 2022, a new Planning and Implementation Team, with incumbent and new members, will convene to build on the ideas presented by the old team. The Planning Group will finalize strategies, objectives, activities, and collaborative partners within each area and implement the SHIP. 

The Scorecard will be updated as these developments occur.

Policy Agenda

To be determined by the new Planning and Implementation Team.

Additional Data Needed/Potential Indicators

To be determined by the new Planning and Implementation Team.

Workgroup Members

In 2022, the new Planning and Implementation Team will form workgroup for each priority area for monitoring implementation and reporting.

Workgroup Action Plan

Will be developed by workgroups.

SHIP Partners

  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation - Arkansas
  • Arkansas Academy of Nutrition & Dietetics
  • Arkansas Center for Health Improvement (ACHI)
  • Arkansas Coalition for Obesity Prevention (ArCOP)
  • Arkansas Coalition of Marshallese
  • Arkansas Department of Agriculture
  • Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE)
  • Arkansas Department of Health
  • Arkansas Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare and Early Childhood Education (DCCESE)
  • Arkansas Department of Human Services, SNAP
  • Arkansas Deptartment of Transportation
  • Arkansas Farm to School
  • Arkansas Heart Hospital
  • Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance (AHRA)
  • Arkansas Minority Health Commission
  • ArCare
  • Boys and Girls Clubs
  • Center for Childhood Obesity Prevention - AR Children’s
  • Consulate of Mexico in Little Rock
  • Culinary Institutes
  • Growing Healthy Communities (GHC)/mayors
  • Healthy Active Arkansas
  • Hometown Health Improvement Coalitions
  • Hospitals
  • Library System
  • Metroplan
  • Natural Wonders, AR Children's
  • Univ of AR Cooperative Extension Services
  • University of Arkansas Medical School College of Public Health

Resources

Why Is This Important?

Obesity is a complex health condition with biological, economic, environmental, individual and societal causes. Known contributing factors to obesity include social and physical environment, genetics, prenatal and early life influences, and behaviors such as poor diet and physical inactivity.
Adults who have obesity, when compared with adults at a healthy weight, are more likely to have a decreased quality of life and an increased risk of developing serious health conditions, including hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, heart disease and stroke, sleep apnea and breathing problems, some cancers and mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. Weight stigma, or discrimination and stereotyping based on an individual’s weight, may also negatively influence psychological and physical health. Children with obesity are more likely to be bullied and to have obesity as adults. 
The costs associated with obesity and obesity-related health problems are staggering. One study estimated the medical costs of obesity to be $342.2 billion (in 2013 dollars). Beyond direct medical costs, the indirect costs of decreased productivity tied to obesity are estimated at $8.65 billion per year among American workers.
About 2 in 5 adults and 1 in 5 children and adolescents in the United States have obesity,1 and many others are overweight.
Definition: Percentage of adults with a body mass index of 30.0 or higher based on reported height and weight
Data Source & Year(s): CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2020
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of CDC, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, Accessed 2021.
A healthy body weight, as an outcome of good nutrition and physical activity, is important for a person's overall health and well-being. A healthy body weight can help reduce the risk of developing serious health conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, stroke and cancer. Healthy eating, regular physical activity, and achieving and maintaining a healthy weight is important to managing health conditions so they do not worsen over time.
Healthy weight loss isn't just about a "diet" or "program". It's about lifestyle changes in daily eating and exercise habits. Good habits include:
  • Choose minimally processed whole foods with a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables and whole grains
  • Drink water or other beverages that are naturally calorie-free
  • Limit sugar-sweetened beverages, processed meats, refined and highly processed foods
  • Avoid overeating by choosing small portions and eating slowly, eat at home, and eat mindfully, enjoying your food
  • Stay active. If there was a "magic bullet" for good health, physical activity would be it
  • Limit screen time
  • Get enough sleep
  • Relax. Control stress with regular physical activity

Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.

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