Health & Nutrition

Articles

State Workplace Wellness Initiatives [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures
June/July 2007
To address the growing threat to America's future health and economy, state legislatures are acting to respond to childhood and adult obesity, encourage healthy behavior and provide choices for healthy eating and active living. Improved wellness in the workplace means fewer sick days, higher productivity, and potentially lower health insurance costs for both employees and employers. This article examines practices and programs that promote wellness and encourage long-term behavioral changes.

Counties and Local Food Systems [PDF]
National Association of Counties
July 2007
This publication contains methods and case studies explaining how county governments can support their local food systems. It was written with a focus on obesity prevention, but readers interested in the links between agriculture and economic development, environmental protection and food security will also find the content useful.

Pennsylvania's Fresh Food Financing Initiative: Providing Healthy Food Choices to Pennsylvania's Communities [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
July 2005
Many low-income communities lack grocery stores and access to fresh, healthy food. The Pennsylvania Fresh Food Financing Initiative, which promotes supermarket development in underserved areas, exemplifies how state government leadership can work with corporate and nonprofit partners to support healthy food environments in their communities.

Pass the Peas Please [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
May 2005
This article profiles the Kentucky Proud program, whereby state park restaurants purchase produce from local growers, rather than from corporate wholesalers. This campaign to buy local makes fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables readily available and benefits local farmers. Estimates show the program could potentially bring in about $2 million for Kentucky's fruit and vegetable producers.

Overfed but Undernourished: Not Will Power, but Purchasing Power, May Determine Who Eats Healthy Foods [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
April 2005
The abundance of cheap fast-food options, coupled with the dearth of affordable, healthy food in many low-income communities is a major obstacle to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. This NCSL article illustrates how lack of affordability and access to healthy food is contributing to escalating obesity rates among low-income populations. It explores how legislators are taking action and how states can leverage resources to counter this trend.

Improving Access to Healthy Foods: A Guide for Policy-Makers [PDF]
Leadership for Healthy Communities (LHC)
January 2007
This guide focuses on healthy eating and highlights why a healthy diet remains out of reach for many Americans. It explores how officials at the state and local levels can facilitate healthy eating by adopting policies that help communities improve access to affordable, healthy foods for all residents.
Evolution of Increased Access to Local, Fresh Produce in New Mexico [PDF]
National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL)
May 2005
The state of New Mexico has dealt, in part, with the childhood obesity epidemic by working to get fresh, high-quality fruits and vegetables into school lunches. This article highlights the innovative policies and initiatives that have brought locally grown produce to New Mexico's schools.

www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Division of Nutrition and Physical Activity
The DNPA site includes epidemiological and behavioral research, surveillance, training and education, intervention development, health promotion and leadership, policy and environmental change, communication and social marketing and partnership development.