ducing and Preventing Obesity

Overweight and obesity are both labels for ranges of weight that have been shown to increase the likelihood of certain diseases and other health problems such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cancer and more.

Goals and Approach
The Health Trust will focus on the following four goals to reduce obesity:

1. Increase knowledge and awareness about healthy weight and health behaviors involving physical activity and healthy eating and the consequences of overweight and obesity.
2. Increase fruit and vegetable consumption and recommended physical activity.
3. Promote, foster and advocate for environmental changes that support healthy eating and physical activity.
4. Foster community-wide commitment to optimized health and wellness as a result of healthy weight.

Priority Strategies

• Develop a Social Marketing campaign to support behavior change through awareness of healthy behaviors and consequences of unhealthy weight.
• Provide leadership and coordination of the Healthy Silicon Valley community collaborative on obesity prevention.
• Impact General Plan processes to require inclusion of a health element in land use and other public policies set by local cities and the county.
• Promote and foster development of community/school gardens and urban/sustainable agriculture to expand access to fruits & vegetables and outdoor activity.
• Promote and foster organization wellness and provide services to corporations, business, government, institutions, nonprofits and faith-based groups. 

Click here to read full descriptions of Priority Strategies.

Desired Outcomes
Increase in knowledge and awareness of healthy behaviors (physical activity and healthy eating)

• Increase in physical activity
• Increase in fruit and vegetable consumption
• Reduction of diabetes
• Increase in student fitness levels
• Increase in the proportion of youth and adults at healthy weight