Rhode Island

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).  Rhode Island has received funding for this program since 2000 (excluding 2003).

The Burden of Obesity in Rhode Island

Rhode Island's estimated 2007 total population is just over one million with more than 800,000 adults. Of those adults, approximately 39% are considered overweight and another 22% 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 Rhode Island adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only one quarter eat fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

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

The problem is not limited to adults alone. Over 16% of youth (9th–12th grades) are overweight, and another 11% are obese, according to 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.

• Only 42% of the youth in these grade levels are meeting current physical activity recommendation levels.
• Only 19% eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.
• One quarter drink at least one non-diet soda each day.
• Twenty-seven percent watch three or more hours of television each day.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In Rhode Island, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $305 million in 2003 dollars. 

What is Rhode Island Doing about Obesity?

Rhode Island's nutrition and physical activity program is called the Initiative for a Healthy Weight (IHW). One of the initiative's projects has been to work with a local agency, Blackstone Health, to conduct a food access assessment of Central Falls and Pawtucket, two low-income communities in Rhode Island. Results of the assessment indicated that there was only one major grocery store; only a few stores sold a combination of low-fat dairy, fresh fruits and vegetables, and whole grains; and fewer than 50% of markets accepted WIC vouchers. To address these problems, IHW, WIC, and Progreso Latino (a local community organization) reached out to markets that did not accept WIC vouchers and worked with them to become WIC vendors. Now, 9 of the 11 markets targeted have completed the process to become a WIC vendor.

Another unique partnership IHW has made is with Brown University, a local produce distributor, and a community resource center to implement the Fresh to You initiative. This initiative provides high-quality, reduced-price produce to residents of low-income communities, addressing three main barriers to fruit and vegetable consumption: cost, convenience, and quality. Participants reported increased fruit and vegetable consumption and appreciated the convenience and cost savings of the program. 

In 2007, Rhode Island was named the first “Well State” in the nation by the Board of Wellness Councils of America, meaning that over 20% of the state's workforce was employed by organizations that received worksite wellness awards, meeting the standards set by the council.

In 2006 the Physicians' Committee for Breastfeeding in Rhode Island and the RI Department of Health launched the Breastfeeding Friendly Workplace Awards. The awards have been successful at not only improving breastfeeding friendly policies, but also developing a sense of pride in accommodating breastfeeding mothers. Since 2006, 16 businesses have been recognized for effectively accommodating breastfeeding employees. In 2007 the Lifespan System, the states largest health system and the largest private employer received an award.

Many state-level laws have been passed in Rhode Island over the past few years. Several deal with improving the school environment (minimum time to be spent on health and physical education; physical education and health criteria to meet certain standards; and requirements for elementary, middle, junior high, and high schools to offer only healthier beverages and snacks). Another important law provided tax credits for the purchase of locally grown foods to be used in schools. Additional bills introduced in 2009 include a tax on sweetened beverages and syrups and menu labeling requirements for chains of 15 or more locations nationally.

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

For more information:
Eliza Lawson, MPH
Program Manager, Initiative for a Healthy Weight
Rhode Island Department of Health
Telephone: 401-222-4847
Fax: 401-222-4415
E-mail: eliza.lawson@health.ri.gov 
Web site: http://www.health.ri.gov/healthyweight/initiative/index.php

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