Silver State Times

On Thursday, September 19, 2024, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released the 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps. The data revealed that all U.S. states and territories had an obesity prevalence higher than 20%. Twenty-three states now have an adult obesity prevalence over 35%, up from 22 states in 2022.

Nevada's adult obesity prevalence for 2023 stands at 30.8%, a decrease from 33.5% in 2022 and 31.3% in 2021, but still higher than all reported rates from 2011-2020.

Obesity is a chronic disease that increases the risk of numerous other chronic conditions, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancers, and severe outcomes from respiratory illnesses. In Nevada, four out of the top five leading causes of death are due to chronic diseases: heart disease, cancer-malignant neoplasms, chronic lower respiratory diseases, and stroke.

The CDC emphasized the need for population-based interventions to ensure access to healthy foods, safe places for physical activity, stigma-free obesity prevention and treatment programs, and evidence-based health care services. To best support Nevadans in mitigating and preventing obesity, statewide partners need to work together to provide comprehensive support.

In 2022, the Division of Public and Behavioral Health's Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion Program (CDPHP) released the Chronic Disease Strategic Plan 2023-2027. The strategic plan aims to improve the health of all Nevadans by enhancing policy systems and environments influencing quality of life. CDPHP focuses on primary prevention as evidence suggests this will have the greatest impact in reducing the overall physical and financial burden of disease.

CDPHP launched its first statewide obesity prevention and treatment program in 2023 called Healthy Eating Active Living Nevada (HEALNV). HEALNV is a community engagement initiative promoting healthier behaviors to reduce risks associated with conditions like diabetes, heart disease, obesity, Alzheimer's disease, and cancer. This initiative encourages Nevadans to integrate healthy choices into their daily lives.

The HEALNV program includes the "5-2-1-0" messaging campaign:

- Five or more fruits and vegetables a day

- Two hours or less of screen time

- One hour of physical activity a day

- Zero sugar-sweetened beverages

CDPHP collaborates with Northern Nevada Public Health, Southern Nevada Health District, Carson City Health and Human Services, the Nevada Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics Dr. Steven Shane to expand the HEALNV "5-2-1-0" Program across various sectors such as healthcare providers, schools, early education settings worksites community centers among others.