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Pennsylvania was named the 17th most obese state in the country, according to the seventh annual "F as in Fat: How Obesity Threatens America's Future 2010" report from the Trust for America's Health (TFAH) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The state's adult obesity rate is 28.1 percent, and, in Pennsylvania men are more obese than women at 29.3 percent. Now more than two-thirds of states (38) have adult obesity rates above 25 percent.
Pennsylvania Youth Nutrition and Fitness Fact Sheets:The Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity added obesity-related questions to the 2006 Youth Tobacco Survey which was conducted during the fall and winter of the2006-2007 school year. The obesity-related questions asked high school and middle school students questions about their nutrition and physical activity knowledge, behaviors, and attitudes. The highlights were compiled into a fact sheet intended to inform program staff, researchers, healthcare providers, local health departments, and community partners. This data will be used as baseline data. View facts sheets below.
Nutrition and Fitness Middle School Fact Sheet
Nutrition and Fitness High School Fact Sheet
The Obesity Prevention and Control Program worked with the Pennsylvania Medical Society to offer CME /CEU credits to healthcare professionals through their Counter Details program. The objectives of the Pediatric Obesity Management (July 2008) Counter Details are to help healthcare professionals:
- Identify the scope of the problem with pediatric obesity management.
- Review the latest Clinical Treatment Guidelines of Pediatric Overweight and Obesity for integration into their practice.
- Formulate strategies to effectively communicate the problem to the primary care setting.
- Identify links with appropriate treatment resources.
- Review a best practice physician initiative to heighten awareness of physician participation.
Click Here to review this issue of Counter Details.
Pennsylvania's Plans
Child Wellness Plan 2009-10: Act 114 of 2006 of Pennsylvania directed the secretaries of Education, Health and Agriculture to form an Interagency Coordinating Council for Child Health, Nutrition and Physical Education (Council) and an associated Advisory Committee to help guide the Council. The Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare and the Pennsylvania Insurance Commission also are represented on the Council.
In 2007, the Council began its work and, with the assistance of the Advisory Committee, established the following goals:
Goal 1 - Increase physical activity among Pennsylvania's children
Goal 2 - Increase nutritious food consumption among Pennsylvania's children
Goal 3 - Decrease the number of Pennsylvanians
i. at risk for overweight or obesity, and
ii. with weight related chronic diseases.
The Council submitted its first Child Wellness Plan addressing progress towards these goals to the Governor and leadership of the General Assembly in 2007. The report described some of the health trends of concern among Pennsylvania's citizens and made several policy recommendations. Updated reports were submitted in 2008 and 2009. This report constitutes the fourth annual report.
 Child Wellness Plan 2007-08: As part of a coordinated response to obesity, Act 114 of 2006 of Pennsylvania directs the secretaries of Education, Health and Agriculture to lead an interagency effort focused on identifying the resources available to the communities of Pennsylvania as they seek to reverse this startling trend. What follows is the Pennsylvania Child Wellness Plan which provides an update on the work of the Interagency Council on Child Health, Nutrition, and Physical Activity since 2006. The report also provides recommendations to policymakers as to how they can leverage state policy and currently available state-funded programs to foster wellness across the Commonwealth. The plan used the following: State Resources and State Indicators
PA Healthy Kids Compendium, a guide to Pennsylvania's strategy for balancing nutrition and physical activity in kids.
Ways to stay healthy
Eat:
· Whole grain cereals, pasta, crackers and breads
· More Fruits and Vegetables
· Low-fat milk, yogurt, cheese
· Low-fat meats, poultry, fish
· Drinking water instead of soda or sugary beverages
· Less high-fat and pre-made meals
Do:
· Walk faster
· Hike more
· Bike longer
· Garden
· Jump
· Snow activities
· Run more
People who are inactive and do not have good eating habits are at risk for:
· High blood pressure
· Type 2 diabetes
· Heart failure or disease
· Stroke
· Osteoarthritis
· Breast, prostate, or colon cancer
· Mental disorders such as depression, eating disorders, or distorted body image.
You have the power to take charge of your health and the Pennsylvania Department of Health is here to help you! Visit the links on the right hand side of this page to get information you need for a healthy life! | 
