The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states 98 million Americans have obesity. Between 1980 and 2010, the percentage of people with obesity doubled among adults and tripled among children. Since 2010, rates have been steady, even declined among young children, but too many people still have obesity. Obesity reduces quality of life and increases individuals’ risk for other diseases including diabetes, heart disease, and certain cancers. Obesity severely impacts the U.S. economy, approximately $147 billion in annual health care costs.
The Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) supports healthy eating, active living, and obesity prevention by creating healthy child care centers, hospitals, schools, and worksites; building capacity of state health departments and national organizations; and, concluding research, surveillance and evaluation studies.