Friday, September 26, 2014

CDC gives Extension at 6 universities $4.2 million to fight obesity in counties where it's very high

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has awarded the Cooperative Extension Service at six land-grant universities $4.2 million to combat obesity in counties with obesity rates of 40 percent or more. This is the first time the CDC has funded an Extension program.

The work will focus on reducing chronic disease rates, advocating healthier lifestyles, reducing of health disparities and supervising health-care spending. "These strategies will improve physical activity and nutrition, reduce obesity and prevent and control diabetes, heart disease and stroke," according to the CDC website.

For the current fiscal year Auburn University received $791,222, the University of Kentucky received $629,004, South Dakota State University received $588,456, the University of Tennessee received $987,774, Texas A&M University received $783,000 and West Virginia University received $427,419. (Read moreHere is the CDC's list of counties with over 40 percent obese adults.

The universities will intervene through extension and outreach services at the county level. For example, at Kentucky, "Researchers and extension personnel in UK's College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and College of Public Health will work in six Kentucky counties that have obesity rates higher than 40 percent ... Logan, Clinton, Lewis, Martin, Letcher and Elliott," Katie Pratt reports for UKAgNews.

Obesity is a major problem, especially among young people, African Americans, Hispanics and Alaskan Native and Native Americans. Rates of youth obesity are higher in low-income and rural communities. (Read more)

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