On May 6th, Mayor Adrian M. Fenty and Department of Health’s Director, Dr. Pierre Vigilance, unveiled the first-ever Obesity Report and Obesity Action Plan for the District of Columbia. The report lays the landscape of obesity in the District and details the multifaceted issues surrounding the epidemic that affects 35 percent of children and 55 percent of adults. Among health behavior change researchers, the prevention and treatment of obesity requires an ecological model that analyzes the influences on an individual, social and cultural and environmental level. Mirroring such theory, Obesity in the District of Columbia assessed a plethora of health behaviors in all eight of the city’s wards, detailing obesity rates, income, diet and nutrition. Moreover, the report analyzed gender, race, crime, access to and types of food options, and demographic information. Providing the statistics on youth, data was pulled from the Youth Behavior Risk Survey (YBRS) and Advisory Neighborhood Council (ANC). Key insights from the report pertaining to food include:
Obesity in the District of Columbia
• Wards two and three had the most grocery stores, organic food and farmers markets, and also had the lowest rates of obesity
• Ward eight had the fewest healthy food options and had the highest rate of obesity
• For high school youth, rates of physical activity as well as fruit and vegetable consumption decreased over a five year period from 2003-2007
• The environment of unhealthy food thwarts good nutrition standards in schools
Obesity Action Plan
Obesity Action Plan
According to The Washington Post coverage of the two-day conference reviewing the report and subsequent plan, “officials at the conference said that to battle the problem of obesity, a holistic approach involving the entire city must be undertaken.” In order to rally and realistically execute the Obesity Action Plan, the DOH strategically devised an approach that focuses on the wards with highest obesity levels and developed tactics for achieving eight specific goals in seven categories over the next five years. The full action plan can be found here. With five strong goals pointed at food issues, detailed below, the plan reiterates the importance of understanding and adapting food policy initiatives in order to foster change that makes a difference.*
1. Schools and Child Care Facilities – District of Columbia children and adults are able to maintain healthy eating and physical activity to support a healthy weight while in schools and child care facilities.
2. Food Retail and Food Service Establishments – District of Columbia residents consume a diet consistent with the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
3. Worksites – District of Columbia residents are able to maintain healthy eating and physical activity at their place of employment to support a healthy weight.
4. Faith-Based Institutions – District of Columbia residents are able to maintain healthy eating and physical activity at their faith-based institutions to support a healthy weight.
5. Overarching Support Systems and Infrastructure – District of Columbia Government agencies and community and professional non-government agencies collaborate to ensure that residents at risk of overweight and obesity have access to healthy foods, opportunities to be physically active, and supportive policies combined with information to regularly make healthy choices.
*For a comprehensive overview of the key constituents in food related policy, see our recent Food & Nutrition Report
