A Healthy Indiana: Making the Healthy

Choice the Easy ChoiceLaura Hormuth, MS, RD

Division of Nutrition and Physical ActivityIndiana State Department of Health

March 31, 2011

Today’s Discussion• The Obesity Epidemic• The Indiana Healthy Weight

Initiative• A Call to Action—Indiana’s

Comprehensive Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan, 2010-2020

• How the Plan is being implemented in Indiana

The Obesity Epidemic• Over the past three decades, the

impact and prevalence of overweight and obesity among people have increased at an alarming rate in both Indiana and the nation

The Obesity Epidemic Is Real

• 29% of adolescents and 65% of adults are overweight and obese in Indiana

3.2 Million Adults• An estimated 3.2 million adults

in Indiana are overweight and obese

1.7 Million Adults at RiskEven more frightening…• An estimated 1.7 million adults are

at risk of becoming overweight and obese if they are unable to maintain a healthy weight

“IF YOU GO WITH THE FLOW IN AMERICAN SOCIETY TODAY, YOU WILL END UP OVERWEIGHT.”

Dr. Thomas Frieden, Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, CDC

Behaviors Central to our Way of Life

• Driving, eating, drinking, and sitting in front of a screen for endless hours are deep-seated behaviors that are central to our social and economic way of life

• These habitual daily behaviors further underscore the magnitude of this health issue

Hoosiers not Meeting Recommendations

• Overall, the residents of Indiana fail to eat the recommended number of fruits and vegetables or meet the recommended amount of daily physical activity—two behaviors directly linked to overall good health and well being

Poor Nutrition and Sedentary Behaviors

• Poor nutrition and sedentary behaviors are contributing to this epidemic

Health Consequences of Obesity

• Carrying more weight than recommended, being inactive, and eating poorly all lead to preventable and life-threatening diseases

Obesity Is Costly• Just as obesity takes a

devastating toll on health, it also places a huge financial burden on the health care delivery system

Many Other Factors Impact Weight

• The places where we live, learn, work, and play influence whether or not a healthy food choice or opportunities to engage in physical active are even an option

THE EPIDEMIC IS REAL THE CHALLENGE IS ON

Being captive to the ill effect of obesity is not the future any of us envisioned

The Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative

• The Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative is Indiana’s public health response to the growing need and desire for more communities and settings that support good nutrition and physical activity for all Indiana residents

Quality of Life• The initiative seeks to enhance

the health and quality of life for all Indiana residents by promoting good nutrition, regular physical activity, and a healthy weight through policy, environment and lifestyle change

www.inhealthyweight.org

CDC-Funded Initiative • The Indiana Healthy Weight Initiative

is a CDC-funded initiative to develop and implement a state plan

• The initiative addresses obesity by coordinating statewide efforts with multiple partners

• The state plan focuses on the use of policy and environmental approaches

MISSION

To enhance the health and quality of life of Hoosiers by promoting good nutrition, regular physical activity, and a healthy weight through policy, environment, and lifestyle change

VISION

All Hoosiers practice and enjoy a lifestyle of healthy eating and physical activity within an environment that supports health, wellness, and vitality

The State Planwww.inhealthyweight.org

• After talking about it and planning for almost two years, the Plan is a reality

INDIANA’S CALL TO ACTION

Indiana’s Comprehensive Nutrition and Physical Activity Plan, 2010-2020, outlines in detail the policy, systems, and environmental strategies needed to change the trajectory of health in Indiana

A New Way of Thinking about Health

• The Plan is intended to inspire swift, committed, and long-term action across Indiana

• Paving the way for:– a new way of thinking about health– A new way of living– And, ultimately, a new generation of

communities

A Common Vision• The Plan is a call to action for

individuals and organizations to collaborate and coordinate efforts to reach a common vision

The Plan is Your Roadmap

• The Plan should serve as a roadmap directing individuals, groups and organizations toward the creation of healthier environments to support improvements in health behaviors among Indiana residents

The Plan’s Focus• The Plan focuses on health

outcomes–Maintaining a healthy weight–Improving nutrition–Increasing physical activity–Increasing breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity

The Plan uses a Policy and Environmental

Approach

IMPLEMENTATION

Across Indiana individuals and organizations are already working on many of the objectives and strategies in the Plan

Farmers Markets Accepting Snap Benefits

Local Food Policy Councils

Food System Report

Bicycle Friendly Communities

Complete Streets Policies

School Wellness Policies

Safe Routes to School

Farm to School

Garden Initiatives(Schools, Hospitals,

Urban)

Breastfeeding Initiatives

GET INVOLVEDNext Steps:

Individuals and Families

• Eat more fruits and vegetables• Increase your daily physical

activity• Maintain a healthy weight• Give mothers the support they

need to achieve their breastfeeding goals

Communities

• Support local and regional food systems

• Promote and establish community gardening and agricultural initiatives

• Complete the sidewalks and streets to support walking and biking in all communities

Employers• Provide healthy food and

beverages in vending, cafeterias, and at meetings and events

• Encourage employees to increase physical activity

• Create and foster work environments that support breastfeeding mothers

Workplace Programs• Workplace obesity prevention

programs can be an effective way for employers to:– Reduce obesity– lower their health care costs– lower absenteeism– increase employee productivity

Schools• Adopt a comprehensive food

policy with guidelines for purchasing

• Increase physical education requirements

• Strengthen your school wellness policy

Health Care• Provide healthy food in vending,

cafeterias, and at meetings• Encourage employees to

increase physical activity• Ensure that maternity care

practices are fully supportive of breastfeeding

Faith-Based Organizations

• Learn how to provide healthy potlucks and meeting meals

• Plant a garden• Open your building for increased

opportunities for physical activity• Create and foster faith-based

settings that support breastfeeding mothers

WHAT CAN YOU DO TODAY?

www.inhealthyweight.org Visit the Website Sign up to receive email updates Download the State Plan

Thank youLaura Hormuth, MS, RD

Public Health Nutritionist317-234-3498

lhormuth@isdh.in.gov

www.inhealthyweight.org