Friday, April 4, 2025
4/4/2025
Healthier Together: High Obesity Program in Georgia - Obesity is one of the most serious health problems in the United States and disproportionately impacts people of color, low-resource individuals, and people living in rural areas. Georgia ranks 17th in adult and 14th in child obesity in the US. Altogether, 34% of Georgia counties have adult obesity rates of 40% of greater, and 75% of those counties are rural. Obesity interventions must address access to healthy foods and safe places to be physically active for all people to promote health equity. The purpose of the proposed project is to support evidence-based strategies that can be implemented through Extension at the community, county, and regional levels to address poor diet, physical inactivity, and obesity using policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) approaches. The University of Georgia (UGA) College of Public Health, College of Family and Consumer Sciences, College of Environment and Design, and UGA Extension propose a phased approach to continue strategies in Calhoun, Clay, Dooly, Stewart, and Taliaferro counties and expand to Burke, Crisp, McDuffie, Richmond, Rockdale, Sumter, and Washington counties. These twelve counties have adult obesity prevalence over 40%. Georgia has 54 counties where the adult obesity prevalence is greater than 40%. Informed by lessons learned from our previous seven years of High Obesity Program experience, scientific evidence, and CDC technical assistance we will (1) engage community members and partners to identify, implement, and evaluate culturally and contextually appropriate evidence-based PSE strategies in 12 counties; (2), ensure long-term sustainability, (3) minimize unintended adverse outcomes, and (4) maximize positive outcomes. Over time we expect to see sustainable changes that increase access to healthier foods and physical activity, promote healthy eating and physical activity, reduce adult and childhood obesity and chronic disease; improve well-being for all county residents; and reduce health disparities.
HHS’ Tracking Accountability in Government Grants System (TAGGS) website provides access to detailed descriptions of grants, loans, aggregated direct payments and other types of financial assistance awarded by the HHS Operating Divisions (OPDIVs) and the Office of the Secretary Staff Divisions (STAFFDIVs).