Multnomah County Health Department has been awarded $7.5 million in funding to prevent obesity in our community through the Communities Putting Prevention to Work initiative. Through this grant we are working with schools, neighborhoods and community groups to create environments that reduce factors that cause obesity and chronic diseases like heart disease and diabetes.

Funded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, this grant award is part of a national initiative to support public health efforts to reduce obesity, increase physical activity, improve nutrition and decrease smoking. Awards were made to 44 communities to implement policy, systems and environmental changes such as improving physical education in schools, limiting exposure to secondhand smoke, improving safe options for active transportation and providing access to nutritious foods.

Why Obesity Prevention Matters

In Multnomah County, over half of all adults are overweight. One quarter of all children are overweight or at risk of becoming overweight. Many serious health problems are related to being overweight or obese, even during childhood, such as diabetes, heart disease, asthma, and depression. Making lifestyle changes to improve nutrition and increase physical activity is the best way to reach a healthy weight and to prevent these chronic health problems.

We can work together to make changes in our schools, worksites and neighborhoods to promote physical activity and to increase the availability of healthy, affordable, culturally-relevant food.
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