Nutrition Physical Activity Obesity Prevention Program

Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity Prevention

About obesity

Obesity is a common, serious, and costly public health problem that affects both adults and children. According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Adult Obesity Facts, data collected from 2017 - March 2020 indicated that more than forty percent of U.S. adults (41.9%.) aged 20 and over are obese.[1] In addition, the Childhood Obesity Facts indicate that nationally, 22.2% of adolescents aged 12-19, 20.7% of children aged 6-11, and 12.7% of children aged 2-5 years are obese.[2] Body Mass Index, or BMI, is used as a screening tool for overweight or obesity. BMI is a calculated measure of a person's body weight (in kilograms) divided by the square of their height (in meters). Essentially, BMI = weight (kg) / height in meters squared.[3]

BMI categories for adults 20 years or older [4]	BMI range (kg/m²)
Underweight	Less than 18.5
Healthy weight	18.5 to less than 25
Overweight	25 to less than 30
Obese Class 1 obesity Class 2 obesity Class 3 obesity (sever obesity)	30 and greater 30 to less than 35 35 to less than 40 40 or greater

Child obesity is measured a little differently; a child's weight status is determined using an age- and sex-specific percentile for BMI rather than the BMI categories used for adults. As seen in the table below, children that are at or above the 95th percentile are considered obese whereas children at the 85th percentile up to the 95th percentile are considered overweight. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a BMI calculator available for adults and for children.

Children’s body composition varies as they age and grow and varies between boys and girls. Therefore, BMI among children and teens need to be expressed relative to other children of the same age and sex.

Accurate height and weight measurements are key to calculating a child’s BMI and BMI percentile correctly. This link has the steps to measure children’s height and weight properly: Measuring Children’s Height and Weight | BMI | CDC.

BMI categories for children and teens 2 through 19 years old [5]	BMI Range
Underweight	Less than the 5th percentile
Healthy weight	5th percentile to less than the 85th percentile
Overweight	85th percentile to less than the 95th percentile
Obesity	95th percentile or greater
Severe obesity	120% of the 95th percentile or greater, or 35 kg/m² or greater

Obesity references:

Preventing obesity

The 2025-2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans (2nd Edition) recommendations summarize the latest science and can serve as a roadmap for achieving your health goals.

Eat Healthfully

Follow a healthy eating plan throughout the lifespan. It is never too early or too late to start eating healthfully! The core components of a healthy eating pattern include a variety of foods from the food groups - fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy, and protein foods. A healthy eating pattern may also include oils, such as vegetable oil or the oils found in nuts, seeds, and seafood.
Customize your healthy eating pattern to fit your preferences and budget. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is the framework for healthy eating, but you can chose what you like within the food groups!
Focus on nutrient-dense foods and beverages and stay within calorie limits. Nutrient-dense foods provide vitamins, minerals, and other health-promoting components and have no or little added sugars, saturated fat, and sodium. Examples of nutrient-dense foods include fruits and vegetables, whole grains, low-fat or fat-free milk products, seafood, lean meats, eggs, peas, beans, and nuts.
Limit foods and beverages that are high in added sugars, saturated fat, and salt (sodium), and limit alcohol. A healthy dietary pattern doesn’t have much room for extra added sugars, saturated fat, or sodium—or for alcoholic beverages. A small amount of added sugar, salt, or saturated fat may help you consume healthy foods and beverages but should be limited. Adults of legal drinking age who chose to drink should limit alcoholic beverages to two drinks per day for men, and one drink per day for women. Some adults, like pregnant women should not drink alcohol at all.

Be Physically Active

Preschool-aged children should be active throughout the day to enhance growth and development. Active play should include a variety of light, moderate, or vigorous intensity for at least 3 hours per day.
School-aged children and adolescents (aged 6-17) need at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous activity daily. Most activity can be aerobic, like walking, running, or anything that makes their heart beat faster. They also need muscle-strengthening and bone-strengthening activities such as climbing on playground equipment, playing basketball, and jumping rope.
Adults need at least 150 to 300 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity which should include muscle-strengthening exercises like weight-lifting 2 or more days a week.

Want to learn more? Not sure if it is moderate or vigorous activity? Visit Move Your Way for more information and tips on meeting the physical activity guidelines!

According to the CDC, people who have obesity are at increased risk for many diseases and health conditions, including the following:

High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol, high triglycerides, and other abnormal lipids
Type 2 diabetes
Heart disease and stroke
Many types of cancer
Chronic kidney disease
Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), formerly known as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease
Joint problems, such as osteoarthritis
Respiratory conditions, such as asthma and obstructive sleep apnea.
Severe illness from COVID-19 and flu
Pregnancy problems, such as gestational diabetes

It is important to note that some people may be at risk for chronic diseases even if their BMI falls in the healthy weight range. Individuals should speak with a healthcare provider if they have concerns about their weight or health status.

There is no single or simple solution to the obesity epidemic. It’s a complex problem which requires a multifaceted approach. Policy makers, state and local organizations, business and community leaders, school, child care and healthcare professionals, and individuals must work together to create an environment that supports healthy lifestyles.

There are several ways in which state and local organizations can create a supportive environment to promote healthy eating and being physically active. Community efforts must focus on supporting healthy eating and active living in a variety of settings. The key to achieving and maintaining a healthy weight isn't short-term dietary changes; it's about a lifestyle that includes healthy eating and regular physical activity.

Sugar-Sweetened Beverages and the Obesity Epidemic

What Are Sugar-Sweetened Beverages?

Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) are drinks that are sweetened with one or more added sugars. Added sugar goes by many names including raw sugar, honey, brown sugar, fruit juice concentrate, corn sweetener, corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, malt syrup, molasses, dextrose, fructose, glucose, lactose, maltose, and sucrose.

Drinks that contain added sugars include regular soda (not the diet variety), fruit drinks such as lemonade and fruit punch (not 100% juice), sports drinks, energy drinks, sweetened water drinks, and coffee and tea beverages with added sugars. You can tell if your beverage has added sugars by reading the ingredient list located on the product’s label.

How are SSBs Related to Obesity?

SSBs are major sources of added sugars and calories in the U.S. diet. The calories provided by SSBs are “empty”, meaning they have little to no nutritional value. Added sugars only add calories to a person’s diet and should be limited as much as possible to prevent weight gain. Making the switch to drinks with no added sugars, especially water, is a good way to achieve a healthy body weight.

The major sources of added sugars in typical U.S. diets are sugar-sweetened beverages, desserts and sweet snacks, sweetened coffee and tea, and candy. These food categories make up more than half of the intake of all added sugars while contributing very little to food group recommendations.

People who drink SSBs tend not to feel as full as if they had eaten the same calories from solid food. A typical 20-ounce soda contains 15 to 18 teaspoons of sugar and about 240-290 calories. This means that drinking one additional 20-ounce soda each day over the course of one year could result in a 25-pound weight gain if you do not eat less in other areas to make up for the difference.

How can I make healthier beverage choices?

Don’t just eat healthy, drink healthy, too! Soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, and juice drinks are filled with added sugars. Water should be the primary beverage of adults and children alike. See the below tips to help you enjoy healthier beverages.

When you do opt for a sugary drink pick the small size or only drink part of the container. For instance, some beverage companies are now selling 8-ounce cans and bottles of soda, which contain about 100 calories.
Make water more exciting by adding slices of lemon, lime, cucumber, watermelon, berries, mint or other herbs. With so many fruits, vegetables, and herbs to choose from, the flavor possibilities are endless.
Try sparkling water or seltzer. Be sure to read the ingredients to make sure no sugar is added!
Carry a water bottle and refill it throughout the day for a quick, easy, and cheap thirst quencher.
Keep the fridge stocked with jugs of water for a cool, refreshing drink.
Serve water with meals instead of sugary drinks and drink water when out at restaurants.
Be a role model for your friends and family by choosing healthy, low-calorie beverages.

Remember most SSBs (e.g., soda, sports drinks) do not contribute to meeting food group goals and often contain a high number of calories.

For more information, visit:

SSB references:

Connecticut Data

For more information and to view Connecticut-specific data, visit:

Connecticut Child Weight Status Fact Sheet (2019-2021 data)
Connecticut Breastfeeding Fact Sheet (2019-2021 data)
Connecticut Adult Weight Status Fact Sheet (2021 data)
Connecticut Adult Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Fact Sheet (2021 data)
Connecticut Adult Physical Activity Fact Sheet (2021 data)
Connecticut Childhood Obesity Report (August 2018)

Nutrition, Physical Activity & Obesity Prevention Program