The Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta released its 2007 Behavior Risk Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) on July 17, 2008. This survey monitors certain behaviors, including obesity, across the United States.  Since the mid-80’s, this survey has been conducted on a yearly basis. The BRFSS relies on self reporting by randomly selected citizens to determine health trends across the country.

The implications of the results in this and past year’s surveys continue to show an increasing rise in obesity and a decreasing number in our healthy weight population. In only the last 10 years Tennessee has gone from 19%  to 30% of our population being obese. Step ONE will continue to work with our community partners to reverse these trends. There are more programs in Hamilton County now than ever before including nutrition and physical activity as a component in their efforts. Ultimately, it will be up to each individual to make changes in their lifestyle for all of us to be successful. Change is hard.  However if we take it one step at a time, we can change our course for the future.

Link to the BRFSS