Task Force Fighting Tennessee’s High Obesity Rates

A state task force fighting Tennessee’s high obesity rate is looking to the law as one way to do it.

A tax on sweets and requiring sidewalks for new developments are some of the policy changes the task force is working on.

The group of scientists and state officials believe changing what food is available in neighborhoods and creating cities where walking and biking are easy will lead to a healthier population.

Joan Randall, a Vanderbilt scientist on the task force, says Tennessee already has programs in place to try to curb obesity, but many are too short and don’t reach enough people.

“What we’re looking for is sustainability so that people aren’t just in an intervention for 6 weeks for two months, that we can make a lifestyle change for folks.”

The Centers for Disease Control will fund Tennessee’s plan to battle obesity. Tennessee is one of 25 states receiving such funding. The state’s plan should be finished by June, then implementation will begin.