California

Overweight and obesity have tremendous consequences on our nation's health and economy. Both are linked to a number of chronic diseases, including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes, and some cancers. Most American communities are characterized by unhealthy options when it comes to diet and physical activity. We need public health approaches that make healthy options easy, affordable, and available for all Americans.

CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) currently funds 25 states to address the problems of obesity and other chronic diseases through statewide efforts with multiple partners.  The program's primary focus is to create policy and environmental changes to increase: physical activity, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and breastfeeding; and to decrease: television viewing, consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages, and consumption of high-energy dense foods (high calorie/low nutrient foods).  California has received funding for this program in 2000–2002 and starting in 2008.

The Burden of Obesity in California
California's estimated 2007 total population is more than 36 million, with 27 million adults. Of those adults, approximately 36% are considered overweight and another 23% are considered obese, according to 2007 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Problems are also seen in factors related to obesity and other chronic diseases.

• Almost one quarter of California adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only 29% report eating fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

The problem is not limited to adults alone. More than one-in-four adolescents in California are either overweight or obese, according to the 2007 California Health Interview Survey (CHIS).

• Less than one-in-six California teens report at least one hour of physical activity per day.
• Only 20% of teens and 48% of children report eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables on the previous day.
• On average, adolescents report spending over two hours watching TV or using a computer for fun on the previous day.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In California, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $7.7 billion in 2003 dollars. 

What is California Doing about Obesity?

While many nutrition and physical activity programs already exist, the state has been developing and reorganizing program infrastructure in the California Department of Public Health. Activities in the most recent year of funding (2008) include developing an enhanced California Obesity Prevention Plan; developing a detailed Implementation Plan; determining policy and environmental change priorities; gathering baseline data; and, assessing surveillance systems for nutrition, physical activity, obesity prevention and policy and environmental changes. California is also using research on health economics surrounding nutrition, physical activity and obesity prevention to drive plan priorities. 

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed many bills that support changes in the food environment and aim to improve physical activity environments through changing state government, school and industry policies and practices. Examples include the following:

• SB 12, which strengthens and implements the competitive food standards originally described in SB 19, regardless of funding. SB 12 sets standards for foods sold in California public schools, limiting the amount of non-nutritious competitive foods that can be sold in grades K–12. SB 965 also sets standards for beverages sold in California Public Schools. 
• SB 441 requires that at least 35% of food choices and one-third of beverage choices in vending machines on state property adhere to accepted nutritional guidelines. 
• SB 1420 and AB 97 make California the first state to post calorie information on restaurant menus and menu boards, and to prohibit specified trans-fats from being served or used in the preparation of foods in restaurants and other food facilities. Collectively, these laws provide environmental support for healthier eating choices.
• AB 32requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020. This bill is supported by SB 375, which aims to reduce carbon emissions and create incentives for more Californians to use alternative methods of transportation, including walking and biking. 
• AB 1358 requires cities and counties to adopt complete streets policies that require roadways be designed to safely accommodate all users, including cyclists, pedestrians, transit riders, children, seniors and people with disabilities.

Through these activities and many others, California and CDC are addressing obesity by creating places where California residents can make healthy choices about nutrition and physical activity.

For more information:
Erin Abramsohn, MPH
Evaluation Specialist
Cancer Control Branch, California Department of Public Health
Telephone: 916-445-9030
Fax: 916-449-5355
Email: erin.abramsohn@cdph.ca.gov
Web site: http://ww2.cdph.ca.gov/programs/Pages/CPANOP.aspx

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