More than $2 million in federal funds from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will help Utahns reach a healthy weight. The CDC will give the state $455,000 annually over the next five years to develop a new Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity (PANO) Program.

Competition for the federal funds was intense. Fifty-one U.S. states and territories applied; Utah was one of only eight new states funded, and joins 15 other previously-funded states.

Obesity is a Prevalent Problem.

Although Utah ranks 47th lowest in the nation in obesity rates (2007 data), more than 1,000,000 Utahns are overweight or obese. Among adults, nearly two-thirds (64.1%) of men and nearly half (48.2%) of women are at an unhealthy weight. In 2007, 57% of Utah adults were either overweight or obese.

 

Obesity Is on the Rise.

In 1990, among states participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), 10 states, including Utah, had a prevalence of obesity less than 10% and no states had prevalence equal to or greater than 15%.

By 1998, no state had an obesity prevalence less than 10%.  Utah was among the majority of states which now had an obesity prevalence above 15%. Still, no state had an obesity prevalence equal to or greater than 25%.

In 2007, only one state, Colorado, had a prevalence of obesity less than 20%.  Like the rest of the nation, Utah now had an obesity rate over 20%.  Thirty states had an obesity prevalence equal to or greater than 25%.  While Utah has not yet reached this lamentable benchmark, it is clear that Utah is following national trends.  During this time period, the Utah obesity rate more than doubled, from 9.9% in 1990 to 21.8% in 2007.

 

Some Utah Races and Ethnicities Have Higher Obesity Rates.

While obesity and overweight is a health problem for all Utahns, certain races and ethnicities have even higher rates than Utah as a whole. In Utah, American Indians, Blacks, Pacific Islanders, and Hispanics have higher rates of obesity than other Utahns.  In a recent qualitative study, Utahns of minority race and ethnicity reported that lack of health insurance, traditional cultural choices, lack of motivation and skills, and economic challenges can make preventive action difficult for Utah minorities.

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