Health professionals recognize the benefits associated with a healthy eating plan based on the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Proper nutrition promotes the optimal growth and development of children. A healthy diet also helps reduce the risks for many health conditions.¹

Regular physical activity helps improve a person's overall health and fitness, and reduces the risk for many chronic diseases.² Nationally in 2015, only 20% of adults reported that they participated in enough aerobic and muscle strengthening exercises to meet guidelines³ and about half of high schools students were physically active at least one hour per day on five or more days per week⁴.

A person whose weight is higher than what is considered as a normal weight adjusted for height is described as being overweight or having obesity.⁵ Body Mass Index (BMI) is the weight-to-height ratio most commonly used to estimate and screen for overweight and obesity. Overweight is defined as a BMI of 25 or higher; obesity is defined as a BMI of 30 or higher.

---

Staying in control of your weight contributes to good health now and as you age. Individuals who are at a healthy weight are less likely to:

• Develop chronic disease risk factors, such as high blood pressure and dyslipidemia.
• Develop chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteoarthritis, and some cancers.
• Experience complications during pregnancy.
• Die at an earlier age.⁶

---

During the past 20 years, there has been a dramatic increase in obesity in the United States and rates remain high. More than one-third of U.S. adults⁷ and approximately 17% of children and adolescents aged 2-19 years⁸ are obese.

---

Nutrition, physical activity, and weight status are tracked at the national and state levels primarily through two surveys:

• Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBSS), CDC Division of Adolescent and School Health.
• Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), CDC National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion

National information is also tracked through the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), CDC/NCHS and the National Health Interview Survey (NHIS).

Nutrition

• Breastfeeding
• Food Insecurity
• Soda Consumption: Adolescents

Physical Activity

• Physical Activity: Adolescents
• Physical Activity: Adults
• Screen Time: Adolescents

Weight Status

• Obesity: Adolescents
• Obesity: Adults

Physical Activity - Adults (BRFSS)

• Physical Inactivity - Crude Rates
• Physical Inactivity - Age-adjusted Rates
• Recommended Physical Activity - Crude Rates
• Recommended Physical Activity - Age-adjusted Rates

Weight Status - Adults (BRFSS)

• Obese - Crude Rates
• Obese - Age-adjusted Rates
• Body Mass Index (BMI) Category - Crude Rates

New Jersey

• Department of Health, Nutrition and Fitness
• Department of Education, Student Learning Standards: Comprehensive Health and Physical Education
• Department of Transportation, Safe Routes to Schools
• New Jersey School Nutrition Association
• Rutgers Child Health Study

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• Healthy Weight (includes BMI calculators)
• Nutrition
• Overweight and Obesity
• Physical Activity
• Weight Management
• Healthy People 2020: Nutrition and Weight Status
• Healthy People 2020: Physical Activity
• Healthy People 2030: Nutrition and Healthy Eating
• Healthy People 2030: Physical Activity