Scorecard for Obesity Priority Area of the AR State Health Improvement Plan

State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP) 2021-2025

OBESITY

Obesity is associated with major causes of death and disability, and its effect on predisposing individuals to the development of type 2 diabetes is so strong that the onset of this disease now is occurring in childhood. In the United States alone, one-third of adults are now obese, and the prevalence of obesity among children has risen from 5 to 17 percent in the past 30 years. . In economic terms, the estimated annual cost of obesity-related illness based on data from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey for 2000-2005 is $190.2 billion (in 2005 dollars), or nearly 21 percent of annual medical spending in the United States. 

The ADH in collaboration with its community partners will address these issues by highlighting the importance of a healthy lifestyle (- Center for Disease Control and Prevention and The National Academies Press)

The ADH and its community partners will implement strategies to decrease obesity prevalence among Arkansas youths and adults.