Healthy Living: Statewide Obesity Prevention
(KUTV) You probably know someone who is overweight or obese. The number of Americans at risk increases every day. In our Healthy Living report statewide obesity prevention that's tipping the scales for a healthier Utah.
For many years Utahans have been leaner and more active than the national average. In fact recent data from the department of health says we're the third most active state in the country.
That may not be true for long.
“We're one of the most physically active states in the country, that's the good news, the bad news is that a large proportion are still not physically active enough,” said Richard Bullough, Department of Health.
Data shows that over half of adults in Utah are overweight or obese and although the majority of children are not overweight the proportion is increasing.
“We're increasing in overweight and obesity faster than the national average,” said Bullough.
To help work towards a healthier Utah Governor Huntsman and the Department of Health are teaming up to launch 'The Utah Blueprint'.
“Really what the blueprint does is bring a focus to the issue,” said Bullough.
The blueprint has a vision.
“The healthy choice is the easy choice at home, school, work and play,” said Bullough.
The blueprint focuses on settings like school, work and family to help promote an active environment. Many schools are quickly becoming 'Gold Metal Schools' and kicking off activity programs.
“Gold metal schools establish physical activity guidelines, nutrition guidelines and has components that basically create a healthy environment for the student,” said Bullough.
By 2010 the blueprint hopes to decrease the percent of Utah's overweight children and hold the proportion of overweight adults steady.
“The blueprint itself is new but the concepts are not new,” said Bullough.
The Department of Health says there's no better time to get active than now.
“It's time to act. It's time to coordinate, It's time to implement,” said Bullough.
The blueprint will officially launch this fall. Schools are already taking healthy steps by eliminating vending and pop machines and encouraging physical activity.
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