Louisiana Department of Health & Hospitals | Bruce Greenstein, Secretary

Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management

The Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management (LA Obesity Council) was created by state legislation in 1999 to address the problem of childhood and adult obesity. Council members from public and private sector organizations work in partnership to strengthen the alignment, development and implementation of programs, projects and research to respond to the public health challenge of obesity.

MISSION: To promote an environment that supports opportunities for all Louisiana residents to make healthy food choices and to be physically active in order to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.

VISION: We envision a Louisiana where all people will lead a responsible, healthy life that prevents or reduces obesity and related health conditions.

Burden on Louisiana

• Obesity and overweight have reached epidemic proportions
• Louisiana is ranked 5th highest in the country in obesity. (2010 Trust for America's Health Report)
• 64.9% of Louisiana adults are overweight or obese (2009 CDC BRFSS)
• During the 2008-2009 school year, height and weight taken on approximately 13,000 children (2-19 yrs old) seen in School Based Health Centers in Louisiana revealed 47.54% were overweight or obese (28.98% obese).
• Since 1990, the prevalence of obesity increased by 135%.(2009 United Health Foundation)
• Obesity & overweight are associated with increased risk for costly chronic diseases, such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, osteoarthritis and some cancers
• Obese adults have a 36% higher average annual medical expenditure than adults at normal weight
• The cost of child obesity-associated illness increased from 35 to 127 million in the past 2 decades

RESOURCES

• Strategic Plan 2010-2013
• Obesity Prevention Strategies
• Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention in Louisiana
• Reports & Statistics
• Newsroom
• Links

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Louisiana Council on Obesity Prevention and Management
P.O. Box 3214
Baton Rouge, LA 70802

Pamela Romero Nutrition Consultant Phone: 225.342.7901 Fax: 225.342.8312 pamela.romero@la.gov

Caren "Sam" Pourciau, RNC, MBA Chronic Disease Nurse Consultant Phone: 225.342.0057 Fax: 225.342.5839 caren.pourciau@la.gov