Fact Sheets and Other Publications

Fact Sheets

Childhood Obesity
CDC, Adolescent and School Health
The Obesity Fact Sheets contain results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) and School Health Profiles (Profiles) related to the obesity epidemic among youth.

Nutrition and the Health of Young People
CDC, Adolescent and School Health

Recent MMWRs, Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Reports

For more see MMWR.

Competitive Foods and Beverages Available for Purchase in Secondary Schools — Selected Sites, United States, 2006
MMWR, August 29, 2008 / 57(34);935-938
To identify the types of competitive foods and beverages available for purchase from vending machines or at school stores, canteens, or snack bars, CDC analyzed data from the 2006 School Health Profiles for public secondary schools in 36 states and 12 large urban school districts.

Recommended Community Strategies and Measurements to Prevent Obesity in the United States
MMWR, July 24, 2009 / 58(RR07);1-26
Reversing the U.S. obesity epidemic requires a comprehensive and coordinated approach that uses policy and environmental change to transform communities into places that support and promote healthy lifestyle choices for all U.S. residents. Environmental factors (including lack of access to full-service grocery stores, increasing costs of healthy foods and the lower cost of unhealthy foods, and lack of access to safe places to play and exercise) all contribute to the increase in obesity rates by inhibiting or preventing healthy eating and active living behaviors.

Fruit and Vegetable Consumption Among Adults — United States, 2005
MMWR, March 16, 2007 / 56(10);213-217
A diet high in fruits and vegetables is associated with decreased risk for chronic diseases. In addition, because fruits and vegetables have low energy density (i.e., few calories relative to volume), eating them as part of a reduced-calorie diet can be beneficial for weight management.

Prevalence of Fruit and Vegetable Consumption and Physical Activity by Race/Ethnicity — United States, 2005
MMWR, April 6, 2007 / 56(13);301-304
To examine the combined prevalence of 1) consumption of fruits and vegetables five or more times per day and 2) regular physical activity among U.S. adults by race/ethnicity, CDC analyzed self-reported data from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). This report describes the results of that analysis, which indicated that the combined prevalence of these two behavioral strategies was higher among men of multiple/other races.

Other Publications

At A Glance 2009 — Obesity, Halting the Epidemic by Making Health Easier

Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005
Dietary Guidelines for Americans, published jointly by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Department of Agriculture (USDA), provides advice about how good dietary habits for people aged 2 years and older can promote health and reduce risk for major chronic diseases.
Also available, a brochure for consumers: Finding Your Way to a Healthier You: Based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans (PDF-255K)

Fruit & Veggies Matter.gov Publications
Find easy ways to add more fruits and vegetables into your daily eating patterns.

Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating
Promotion strategies to encourage young people to adopt and maintain healthy eating habits. Presented by CDC's Adolescent and School Health Program.

Nutritional Standards for Foods in Schools
* This report, published by the Institute of Medicine (IOM), provides nutrition guidance for schools seeking to implement or improve upon their current wellness policies. The report includes the IOM’s recommendations about nutrition standards for foods offered in competition with federally reimbursable meals and snacks.

2007 Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance Report (PDF-588k)
This report summarizes selected data on child health and nutritional indicators received from state, territorial, and tribal governments that contributed to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Pediatric Nutrition Surveillance System (PedNSS) and report.
Also available in text-only format. (PDF-158k)

School Health Index for Physical Activity and Healthy Eating: A Self-Assessment and Planning Guide
A tool to assist with implementation of CDC's Guidelines for School and Community Programs to Promote Lifelong Physical Activity Among Young People and Guidelines for School Health Programs to Promote Lifelong Healthy Eating.

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* Links to non-Federal organizations found at this site are provided solely as a service to our users. These links do not constitute an endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the Federal Government, and none should be inferred. CDC is not responsible for the content of the individual organization Web pages found at these links.