Program Goal and Objectives

Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases

CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) currently funds 25 states to address the problems of obesity and other chronic diseases through statewide efforts coordinated with multiple partners. The program's primary focus is to improve the health of Americans by changing environments where people live, work, learn, and play. The program will also work to build lasting and comprehensive efforts to address obesity and other chronic diseases through a variety of evidence-based nutrition and physical activity strategies. The program goal is to prevent and control obesity and other chronic diseases through healthful eating and physical activity. The goal will be achieved through strategic public health efforts aimed at the following program objectives:

Outcome objectives:

• Decrease prevalence of obesity.
• Increase physical activity.
• Improve dietary behaviors related to population burden of obesity and chronic diseases.

Impact objectives:

• Increase the number, reach, and quality of evidence-based strategies to support healthful eating and physical activity in various settings.
• Increase access and use of environments to support healthful eating and physical activity in various settings.
• Increase the number, reach and quality of social and behavioral approaches to promote healthful eating and physical activity.

The state program will develop strategies to leverage resources and coordinate statewide efforts with multiple partners to address all of the following DNPAO principal target areas:

• Increase physical activity.
• Increase the consumption of fruits and vegetables.
• Decrease the consumption of sugar sweetened beverages.
• Increase breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity.
• Reduce the consumption of high energy dense foods.
• Decrease television viewing.

To read about specific nutrition and physical activity interventions that our funded states are developing or implementing go to Funded States.

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