West Virginia

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). West Virginia has received funding for this program since 2003.

The Burden of Obesity in West Virginia

West Virginia's estimated 2007 total population is just under 2 million, with 1.4 million adults. Of those adults, approximately 38% are considered overweight and another 30% 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 30% of West Virginia adults report no leisure time physical activity in the past month.
• Only one-in-five West Virginia adults eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.

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

• Approximately two-in-five youth in these grade levels are meeting current physical activity recommendation levels.
• Only 20% eat fruits and vegetables five or more times a day.
• Almost half drink at least one non-diet soda each day.
• Approximately one third watch three or more hours of television each day.

Obesity also affects the state's economy. In West Virginia, the medical costs associated with adult obesity were $588 million in 2003 dollars. 

What is West Virginia Doing about Obesity?

West Virginia has made many policy and legislative changes related to healthy eating and active living. In 2005, the state legislature passed House Bill 2816, the West Virginia Healthy Lifestyles Act, to improve public school settings. The act includes language to increase access to healthy beverages; increase time for physical education; and regular fitness testing, body mass index (BMI) assessments, and health education assessments. The state has since received Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funding to evaluate the legislation and its impact.

Other policy changes have included adoption of new nutrition standards for schools by the West Virginia State School Board, policies in 25 counties to remove soft drinks from schools, and legislation to protect breastfeeding women.

One unique partnership in West Virginia is the integration of obesity prevention with economic development. The Office of Healthy Living has partnered with the West Virginia Development Office and the Main Street Program to revitalize town business districts. The Main Street project in Ripley, WV has accomplished many projects which simultaneously meet the goals of economic development and healthy living: streetscape redesign, town policies for healthy refreshments at town celebrations, a city herb garden, community walking/nutrition program, and use of Rails to Trails money to fund a 12 mile walking trail. Plans are in progress to implement similar initiatives in two other West Virginia communities: Kingwood and Philippi.

Through all these activities, West Virginia and CDC are addressing obesity by creating places where West Virginians can make healthy choices about nutrition and physical activity.

For more information:
Keri Kennedy
Manager, WV Office of Healthy Lifestyles
Telephone: 304-558-5210
Fax: 304-558-1553
E-mail: keri.a.kennedy@wv.gov
Web site: www.wvohl.com

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