• Adolescent Pregnancy Rates
• Obesity Rates in Cape Fear Area
• New Hanover County Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
• 2006 NC Children's Well-being Index

Obesity Rates in Cape Fear Area

Local Data:

Percent of children ages 2-18 who are overweight or at-risk for overweight:

• 32.4% of children in NC
• 36.7% of children in Pender County
• 32.7% of children in Brunswick County
• 30.8% of children in New Hanover County

For a full county report click on PDF below.

More obesity data is provided on the Eat Smart, Move More Website

Why is Obesity and Overweight a problem?

According to a U.S. Surgeon General's report, the prevalence of obesity and overweight in adolescents has nearly tripled in the past 2 decades.
Children and adolescents who are overweight or obese are more at-risk for:

• High cholesterol and high blood pressure that contributes to cardiovascular problems
• Type 2 diabetes, previously an adult disease, which is related to obesity and overweight
• Becoming overweight or obese adults with a range of health problems including: heart disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and some forms of cancer.
• Social discrimination which is associated with poor self-esteem and depression.

What is being done?

Locally, the Cape Fear Healthy Carolinians Obesity Prevention Committee, has made strides to address obesity in New Hanover and Brunswick Counties. For example, several walking trails have been planned around the county, a Winner's Circle nutrition program has been implemented in local schools and restaurants, and other program and policy changes are being developed to promote healthy weight.

Also, at the state level the NC Healthy Weight Initiative was established in October 2000 as an impetus to prevent overweight in children. Originally funded by an obesity prevention grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Initiative was housed within the Women's and Children's Health Section of the Division of Public Health. The NC Task Force for Healthy Weight in Children and Youth created a comprehensive state plan, Moving Our Children Toward a Healthy Weight - Finding the Will and the Way, to reduce and prevent childhood overweight.

12 recommendations for achieving health weight

Taken from the NC Healthy Weight Initiative

1. Ensure that all children and youth participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity a day.
2. Limit consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
3. Limit TV/video time to no more than 1-2 hours a day.
4. Provide appropriate portion sizes of foods and beverages.
5. Prepare and eat more meals at home.
6. Set state standards for all foods and beverages available in schools, after-school programs and child care.
7. Establish state policies to ensure adequate time for physical activity in schools, including quality daily physical education, recess and after-school activities.
8. Provide more community-based opportunities for leisure-time/recreational physical activity for all children and youth.
9. Create an environment that makes healthy eating and active lifestyles the norm rather than the exception.
10. Define obesity as a disease and ensure third-party coverage for prevention and treatment services for children who are overweight or at-risk for overweight.
11. Ensure equitable access to childhood overweight prevention and treatment services to reduce health disparities.
12. Ensure a comprehensive, continuous and reliable system for monitoring body mass index ( BMI), weight-related chronic diseases, and nutrition and physical activity behaviors in children and youth.

PDF Download : NCPASS Obesity Data