New York

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).  New York has received funding for this program since 2003.

The Burden of Obesity in New York

New York's estimated 2007 total population is over 19 million, with roughly 15 million adults. Of those adults, approximately 36% are considered overweight and another 26% 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.

• Approximately one quarter of New York adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only 27% eat fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

Also, the National Immunization Survey shows that New York is not meeting four of the five Healthy People 2010 goals for breastfeeding based on children born in 2005.

The problem is not limited to adults alone. Sixteen percent of New York youth (9th–12th grades) are overweight, and another are 11% obese, according to 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.

• Only 38% of youth in these grade levels are meeting current physical activity recommendation levels.
• Approximately one quarter drink at least one non-diet soda each day.
• Thirty-five percent watch more than three hours of television each day.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In New York, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $6.1 billion in 2003 dollars. 

What is New York Doing about Obesity?

A number of legislative changes have occurred in the state since receiving CDC funding for obesity prevention activities in 2003. In August 2007, a law was passed to protect nursing mothers' rights to express breast milk at work and require employers to provide reasonable time and location for employees to do so. Education law was amended to require body mass index (BMI) and weight status reports on student health appraisals in Kindergarten, 2nd, 4th, 7th, and 10th grades. Mandated reporting began with the 2008–2009 school year. New York City has passed legislation to improve childcare environments (limiting TV and screen time, requiring certain amounts of physical activity, and providing limits to juice and sweetened beverages for children). Five jurisdictions (New York City and Westchester, Rockland, Ulster and Suffolk counties) have enacted legislative acts requiring menu labeling in restaurants. Some proposed legislative changes, such as the Healthy Schools Act, were not enacted. This act would have provided nutrition standards for all foods and beverages in New York State schools, banned the sale of candy and fast food, and included funds to assess schools' compliance with physical activity standards.

A sample of other activities in New York include the following:

• Promotion of statewide TV turnoff weeks to all public and private schools in the state and other community-based organizations to encourage students to limit the amount of time they spend watching television.
• Fifteen Eat Well, Play Hard community projects create environmental, policy and practice changes to increase healthy eating and physical activity in communities. Expected outcomes include creation of Farmer's Markets, implementation of Farm-to-School programs, increased low-fat milk sales, healthier child care and school meals and snacks, and increased opportunities for physical activity.
• Activities to promote and support breastfeeding, such as the following:
• Policies at eleven New York City hospitals to exclude baby formula samples from new-mom gift bags, ban formula promotional materials from labor and delivery units, and encourage initiation of breastfeeding in the baby's first hour.
• Ten Business Case for Breastfeeding trainings across the state to prepare for implementing New York's Nursing Mothers in the Workplace Act.
• A Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Initiative from the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) has designated 40 childcare centers and 205 family day care homes as Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care centers.
• Twelve Healthy Eating and Active Living by Design contracts increase community opportunities for physical activity and healthier food choices. These contracts have created more walkable/bikeable neighborhoods, expanded community gardens, and created supermarkets in underserved areas.
• The Hunger Prevention and Nutrition Assistance Program (HPNAP) implements policies to ensure that healthy foods, such as fresh produce, low-fat milk and whole grains, are available through the emergency food relief network. Food recovery projects, food banks, and other contractors increase the availability of locally grown produce by gleaning leftover produce on farms, participating in Community Supported Agriculture, operating gardens and delivering fresh produce to low-income areas.

Through these activities, New York and CDC are addressing obesity by creating places where New Yorkers can make healthy choices about nutrition and physical activity.

For more information:
Kyle A. Restina
Program Coordinator, Obesity Prevention Program, Bureau of Community Chronic Disease Prevention
New York State Department of Health
Telephone: 518-408-5142
Fax: 518-474-3356
E-mail: krr01@health.state.ny.us  
Web site: http://www.nyhealth.gov/prevention/obesity/

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