Tennessee

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). Tennessee has received funding for this program since 2008.

The Burden of Obesity in Tennessee

Tennessee's estimated 2009 total population is 6.3 million, roughly 4.8 million are adults. Of those adults, approximately 36% are considered overweight and another 32% are considered obese, according to 2009 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data. Problems are also seen in factors related to obesity and other chronic diseases.

• Approximately three-in-ten Tennessee adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only 23% of adults eat fruits and vegetables at least five times a day.

Also, the National Immunization Survey shows that Tennessee 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. Sixteen percent of Tennessee youth (9th–12th grades) are overweight, and another 16% are obese, according to 2009 Youth Risk Behavior Survey data.

• Only 24% of the youth in these grade levels are meeting current physical activity recommendation levels (60 minutes or more of physical activity each day).
• Only 18% eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.
• Forty-one percent drank at least one non-diet soda each day.
• Thirty-eight percent watch three or more hours of television each day.

What is Tennessee Doing about Obesity?

The early months with CDC funding for obesity prevention activities have been spent building state capacity and building relationships through an existing Tennessee Obesity Task Force.  Through partnerships with nearly 200 individual's and nearly 100 organizations, this task force has developed a state nutrition, physical activity and obesity plan, Eat Well, Play More Tennessee.   This plan focuses on 12 areas of concentration including 1) Breastfeeding, 2) Increased Access to Healthy and Affordable Foods, 3) Reduced Consumption of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages, 4)  Built Environment/Transportation, 5) Park and Recreation, 6) Decreased Screen Time 7) Early Childcare, 8) Schools, 9) Health Systems, 10) Faith Based Systems, 11) Worksites, and 12) Vulnerable Populations.

Prior to receiving CDC funding in 2008, Tennessee demonstrated several legislative successes in the areas of healthy eating and active living. Examples include the following:

• Vending legislation passed in 2005 which established standards for portion size and nutrient content of competitive foods sold or made available to students in grades K-8 in the public school system.
• Expanded funding for the Coordinated School Health program to all public schools in the state, which includes nutrition and physical activity components and requires body mass index (BMI) measures of students in alternating grade levels.

Several other relevant partners exist in Tennessee including the following:

• Obesity research centers at Vanderbilt University and University of Tennessee Knoxville.
• Knoxville Area Coalition on Childhood Obesity, established in 2008 by a local children's hospital.
• Partnership with the American Heart Association which includes representatives on the taskforce and logistics for meetings and conference calls.
• The Tennessee Breastfeeding Coalition which represents five regional coalitions in the state.

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

For more information:
Rick Canada, MS
Director, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity
Tennessee Department of Health
Telephone: 615-253-8729
Fax: 615-532-7189
E-mail: richard.canada@tn.gov
Web site: http://www.eatwellplaymoretn.org/

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