The Epidemic
61% of South Carolina adults are overweight or obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
22% of non-Hispanic white adults, 37% of non-Hispanic black adults, and 29% of Hispanic adults in South Carolina are obese. (CDC BRFSS, 2002)
26% of low-income children between two and five years of age in South Carolina are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. (CDC PedNSS, 2002)
The obesity rate among South Carolina adults rose by 90% from 1990 to 2002. (CDC BRFSS, 1990, 2002)
Program Priorities
A South Carolina Partnership for Obesity Prevention (SCPOP) is being formed to lead the development of the State Plan for Obesity Prevention and Control.
Goals for SCPOP include increasing physical activity, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables, decreasing time spent watching television, increasing breastfeeding rates, increasing the proportion of people at a healthy weight, increasing research on obesity, and reducing the burden of obesity-related chronic diseases in the state.
Possible future efforts include partnering with South Carolina Healthy Schools on the use of the School Health Index and the implementation of a nutrition education curriculum; work site wellness initiatives, to include policy and environmental changes to support breastfeeding; faith-based wellness programs; and opportunities for physician education on obesity prevention and control.
Partners
African Methodist Episcopal Church
American Cancer, Diabetes, and Heart Associations South Carolina Affiliates
Blue Cross Blue Shield of South Carolina
Center for Research in Nutrition and Health Disparities
Clemson University
Employee Insurance Program (Prevention Partners)
Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness
Medical University of South Carolina
Municipal Association of South Carolina
Office of School Food Services and Nutrition
South Carolina Coalition for Promoting Physical Activity
South Carolina Department of Health and Human Services
South Carolina Department of Transportation
South Carolina Healthy Schools
South Carolina Medical Association
South Carolina Nutrition Research Consortium
South Carolina Primary Health Care Association
University of South Carolina Prevention Research Center
University of South Carolina School of Medicine
Upcoming Events and Products
Development of a state-based obesity surveillance system
Trainings and technical assistance for key state and local community partners to broaden obesity prevention knowledge
Development of adult and childhood obesity fact sheets
Project Period: 2003–2008
Year First Funded: 2003
Funding Stage: Capacity Building
Contact Person:
Erika Kirby
Program Coordinator
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control
Telephone: 803-898-0754
Fax: 803-253-4001
E-mail:
kirbyer@dhec.sc.gov
Data Sources
CDC BRFSS — CDC’s Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
CDC PedNSS — CDC’s Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System
CDC YRBSS — CDC’s Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System
http://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obes..._caronlina.htm 
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