South Carolina

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).  South Carolina has received funding for this program since 2003.

The Burden of Obesity in South Carolina

South Carolina's estimated 2007 total population is approximately 4.4 million with over 3.3 million adults. Of those adults, 36% are considered overweight and another 29% 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.

• One quarter of South Carolina adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only 19% eat fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

Also, the National Immunization Survey shows that South Carolina 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. Approximately 17% of youth (9th–12th grades) are overweight, and another are 14% obese, according to 2007 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.

• Only 38% of youth in these grade levels are meeting current physical activity recommendation levels.
• Only 17% eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.
• Approximately one third drink at least one non-diet soda each day.
• Almost two-in-five youth watch three or more hours of television each day.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In South Carolina, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $1.1 billion in 2003 dollars. 

What is South Carolina Doing about Obesity?

South Carolina's Division of Obesity Prevention and Control led the process to create a statewide plan, launched in June 2005. Communities have used the South Carolina state plan's objectives to guide activities and secure additional funding. A coalition in Walterboro, SC secured $150,000 of state funds to establish a public farmer's market, aided by using the state plan to justify use of these funds. 

South Carolina has introduced additional components to a preschool curriculum, Color Me Healthy, targeting parents and child care facilities. This program aims to improve practices supporting healthful nutrition and physical activity, and led to improvements in both children's and parents' eating and activity behaviors.

In addition to these changes, several statewide laws have been enacted over the past few years. They include the following:

• The 2005 Student Health and Fitness Act comprehensively addresses nutrition and physical activity requirements for children in Kindergarten through fifth grade, including requirements for 150 minutes of physical activity per week, healthy vending policies, and school nutrition standards.
• Act 269 protects a woman's right to breastfeed in public.
• The Bicycle Safety Bill amends South Carolina's bicycling traffic laws to protect bicycle safety.
• Numerous local policy changes have been made to support walking trails, nutritious foods in schools, and master plans for bicycle and pedestrian transportation.

To help communities and partners better use the obesity state plan, the program developed Options for Action, a user-friendly outline of community level nutrition and physical activity strategies that are based on the obesity state plan goals and objectives. In addition, South Carolina's obesity program is supporting a statewide partnership, Eat Smart, Move More… SC, to coordinate public-private efforts to implement changes contained in Options for Action.

Through all of these activities, South Carolina and CDC are addressing obesity by creating places where South Carolinians can make healthy choices about nutrition and physical activity.

For more information:
Erika Kirby
Director, Division of Obesity Prevention and Control
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Telephone: 803-545-4476
Fax: 803-545-4921
E-mail: kirbyer@dhec.sc.gov

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