Washington

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).  Washington has received funding for this program since 2001.

The Burden of Obesity in Washington

Washington's estimated 2007 total population is almost 6.5 million, with roughly 5 million adults. Of those adults, 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.

• Eighteen percent of Washington adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only 26% of adults eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.

The problem is not limited to adults alone. Data from Washington's 2006 Healthy Youth Survey show that 11% of 10th graders were obese and 14% were overweight. Less than half of youth surveyed were eating at least five fruits and vegetables each day: 30% of 8th graders, 25% of 10th graders, and 22% of 12th graders.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In Washington, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $1.3 billion in 2003 dollars. 

What is Washington Doing about Obesity?

The Washington Department of Health houses the Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Prevention Section. Staff coordinate nutrition and physical activity efforts and work with partners to implement the 2003 Washington State Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan. One successful project is “Healthy Communities,” which mobilizes communities to make significant changes in policy and the community environment to support community members with easy access to healthy foods and physical activity opportunities. The first two communities in the project, Moses Lake and Mount Vernon, have incorporated Healthy Communities into all aspects of city and county planning and programming. In 2008, Healthy Communities added eight new communities. The project has resulted in many policy and environmental changes: non-motorized transportation plans, better access to healthy foods through community gardens, farmers markets and food banks, new and enhanced trails, and improved school nutrition programs. Lessons learned from these communities are described in two toolkits available on the Washington State Department of Health Web site (see below for link).

Another community-level project in Washington is Active Community Environments. Active Community Environments are places where people of all ages and abilities can easily enjoy walking, bicycling, and other forms of recreation. Active Community Environments have sidewalks, bicycle facilities, multi-use paths and trails, parks, open space, and recreational facilities. The project encourages mixed-use development and a connected grid of streets, so that homes, businesses, schools, and stores are accessible to pedestrians and bicyclists. The Department of Health, with the Washington State Department of Transportation, and Community Trade and Economic Development, helps communities develop partnerships among transportation, planning, public health, and parks professionals. These partnerships promote policies and plans which allow citizens to be physically active in their daily lives. As a result of this project, numerous cities and communities have implemented “complete streets” policies, pedestrian and bicycle transportation planning, designated funds to develop/maintain the trails and path systems, and implemented Safe Routes to School programs.

To improve access to healthy foods for people in Washington, the Department of Health supports many projects and partnerships. They include the following:

• Energize Your Meetings, a guide to serving healthy foods during meetings and events for worksites.
• A healthy vending initiative called Fit Pick, where healthy items in vending machines are labeled.
• Participating in the Access to Healthy Foods Coalition, non-profit organization which serves as a connecting point among communities working to improve the nutritional environment.
• Coordinating the Fruits & Veggies—More Matters™ Program for the state.

Washington has had great success with rule and policy changes at the state and local levels. For example, the state legislature passed a bill requiring communities to include environmental health impacts to support physical activity in their growth management plans. The Seattle Board of Health now requires chain restaurants to include nutritional information on their menus.

Breastfeeding priorities in Washington's state plan have led to successful community-based initiatives. Four Washington hospitals have earned baby-friendly designation, which means they meet a list of ten criteria for breastfeeding and infant care practices. According to the National Immunization Survey the state is meeting all five of the Healthy People 2010 objectives for breastfeeding based on children born in 2005.

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

For more information:
Kyle Unland
Nutrition and Activity Section Manager, Chronic Disease Prevention Unit
Washington State Department of Health
Telephone: 360-236-3757
Fax: 360-236-3708
E-mail: Kyle.unland@doh.wa.gov 
Web site: www.doh.wa.gov/cfh/NutritionPa/default.htm

---