5425 Polk St., Suite J
Houston, Texas 77023
“Many people believe that dealing with overweight and obesity is a personal responsibility. To some degree they are right, but it is also a community responsibility. When there are no safe, accessible places for children to play or adults to walk, jog or ride a bike, that is a community responsibility”
– David Satcher, The Surgeon General’s Call to Action
to Prevent and Decrease Overweight and Obesity, 2001
The regional Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program (NPAOP) works to reduce the burden of death and disease related to overweight and obesity in Texas. Activities are based on the most current and proven public health strategies. The regional nutritionist partners with state and local organizations, groups and communities across the Region to promote science-based nutrition and physical activity interventions, policies and environmental changes to prevent and control obesity and overweight.
Healthy foods and an Active lifestyle are the easy choice throughout Health Service Region 6/5S (HSR 6/5S)
Improve the quality of life for residents of HSR 6/5S by addressing obesity as a public health issue
Create opportunities to choose lifestyles that promote healthy weight by mobilizing families, schools, and communities
Implement policies and environmental changes that support healthful eating physical activity
Decrease obesity rates through the dissemination of evidence-based practices.
Our Focus Areas
Balancing caloric intake and expenditure through:
Increased physical activity
Improved nutrition through increased breastfeeding initiation, duration and exclusivity
Increased consumption of fruits and vegetables
Decreased consumption of high energy-dense foods
Decreased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages
Decreased screen/television time
Why policy and environmental changes?
Traditionally, nutrition and physical activity strategies have been behavior-based, and have targeted individuals. The rise in overweight and obesity has occurred too quickly to blame individuals. Rather, the environment has become conducive to weight gain (busy schedules, larger portions, reliance on cars, unsafe neighborhoods).
It is inefficient to try and fix the overweight and obesity problem one person at a time. Rather, we need to make more widespread changes that can create an environment supportive of health weight.
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