addressing childhood obesity in new hampshire

New Hampshire Department of Health and Human ServicesDivision of Public Health Services

Addressing Childhood Obesity in New

HampshireTammy Levesque

Community Health EducatorLakes Region Partnership for Public Health

Power Point provided by José Thier Montero, MD Director NH DPHS


What is Public Health?

An Agency That :• Responds to public health threats

and emerging issues• Delivers high quality evidence-

based services• Aims to reduce suffering and death

due to chronic and communicable diseases

• Uses a population based approach to improve health


HEAL-Lakes Region

• HEAL is the NH Obesity Prevention Plan

• HEAL is an acronym for Healthy Eating Active Living

• The Foundation for Healthy Communities implements the HEAL plan with support, funding, and technical assistance from the DHHS Obesity Prevention Program (OPP) and several private foundations


NH Childhood Obesity Data Sources

• Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System

• NH Head Start Study

• Third Grade Study

• Youth Risk Behavior Survey


NH Childhood Obesity Data

• Low income children, 2-5 years old 15.5%

• Head Start Children, 3-5 years old 18.4%

• Third graders in public schools 18.0%

• High school students 12.4%


Inadequate Physical ActivityHigh school students 45.3%

males 47.1% females 62.9%

Excessive Television Viewing (>3 hrs/day)

Low income children, 2 to 5 years old 12.7%High school students 23%

males 27.1% females 18.6%

NH Obesity Risk Factor Data


Inadequate Fruit and Vegetable Consumption High school students77.7%

Excess Soft Drink Consumption High school students22.1%

males 29.7%females 14.5%



Excess Non-Schoolwork Computer Use(>3 hrs per day)

High school students 23.9%

males 30.9%females 16.6%



What should we do ?What should we do ?


How do you control obesity?

• Controlling obesity will require substantial investments by many segments of society

• Policy efforts to increase physical activity and promote healthy eating are needed


Actions for controlling obesity?

• Use the CDC Target Areas for Obesity Prevention

• Provide technical assistance to increase policies that address each target area

• Use surveillance and data to raise awareness

• Recognize resource constraints and work with a variety of partners to help solve the problem

• Change the context to make the healthy choice the default choice


• Increase physical activity

• Increase consumption of fruits and vegetables

• Increase breastfeeding

CDC Target Areas for Obesity Prevention

• Decrease consumption of sugar sweetened beverages

• Decrease consumption of energy dense foods

• Decrease TV viewing


Childhood Obesity in NH

Schools are an appropriate place for policies that improve student health and academic performance.


Win:Win SolutionsPhysical Activity Is Associated With:

• Better academic performance - eleven peer reviewed published studies found that participation in regular physical activity is associated with improved academic performance


Increase Physical Activity


Movement Breaks JAM Sessions


Sugary Beverage Education


Extension of Fruit & Vegetable Grant into Middle School


Positive Messaging on Portions & Choices


School Gardens at all 5 Schools and 8 Child care centers in region


We know we can’t do it all.

It takes time!!!!Assess and re-assess

Use Best PracticesFind the low hanging fruitConnect with Champions!


Technical Assistance

NH Department of Health and Human ServicesDivision of Public Health Services

Obesity Prevention Program603-271-4551

addressing childhood obesity in new hampshire

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