Obesity

Why Is This Important?

Diet and body weight are related to health status. Individuals who are overweight or obese are at risk for diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and some cancers. In Vermont, these diseases account for over 50% of deaths. These illnesses are largely preventable if Vermonters eat a proper diet and follow physical activity recommendations.

What We Do

Obesity is quickly becoming a leading public health challenge in Vermont. Over half of all Vermont adults are overweight or obese, and overweight among children is increasing at an alarming rate. Previously known as the Fit & Healthy Vermonters initiative, the Physical Activity and Nutrition Program focuses on prevention, with ways to increase physical activity and improve healthy eating for Vermonters of all ages. The program promotes policies, systems and environments that help make the healthy choice the easy choice. The program's vision is that all Vermonters will live in communities that enable them to make healthy food choices and lead physically active lives.

This initiative is aligned with, and builds upon the Blueprint for Health, Vermont’s initiative to address the burden of chronic diseases in our state.

Who We Serve

We serve all Vermonters.

How We Impact

We work with communities, worksites, schools, childcare programs and other organizations to create policies that support physical activity and healthy eating:

• communities create sustainable opportunities for active transportation such as sidewalks and bike lanes,
• small worksites receive technical assistance to create policies that support their employees’ wellness
• schools are assisted in creating and implementing wellness policies,
• child care providers develop policies in support of ample physical activity and healthy food for the children in their care

What We Do

Who We Serve

How We Impact