The High Obesity Program (HOP)

Overview

The burden of obesity negatively affects our nation's health and wellness, economy, and military readiness. Poor diet and low levels of physical activity are significant risk factors for obesity and
other chronic diseases such as heart disease, stroke, hypertension, type 2 diabetes, several
cancers, and mental health such as depression. Obesity in the United States affects 100.1 million
(41.9%) adults and 14.7 million (19.7%) children aged 2-19 years and accounts for approximately $149 billion in annual health care costs. Obesity and chronic diseases are too common, very costly, and more likely to affect certain population groups. For example, non-Hispanic Black adults (49.6%) have the highest age-adjusted prevalence of obesity, followed by Hispanic adults (44.8%), non-Hispanic White adults (42.2%) and non-Hispanic Asian adults (17.4%). Systemic inequities and socioeconomic factors may contribute to these higher rates. Rural communities, often have less access to healthy foods and beverages and fewer or more challenging opportunities to be physically active.

A large percentage of Americans are not meeting the recommended federal guidelines for
nutrition and physical activity. 

Purpose

This NOFO will fund land grant universities’ extension services to implement evidence-based
strategies that improve food and nutrition security and safe, accessible physical activity as well
as to implement family healthy weight programs and early care and education programs in states
with counties with adult obesity ≥ 40%. The NOFO will help support core activities such as
partnership engagement, workforce development, and programmatic and evaluation efforts to
achieve the greatest reach and impact for populations with highest need for obesity prevention.

Outcomes

Period of Performance Outcomes

Required Strategy Short-Term Outcomes:

• Increased access to healthier foods
• Increased policies, plans, or community design changes to increase access for physical activity

Optional Strategy Short-Term Outcomes:

• Increased local level ECE policies and activities that improve nutrition, physical activity, and breastfeeding standards and Farm to ECE programs
• Increased supports for implementation of family healthy weight programs

Strategies and Activities
The Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity’s mission is grounded grounded by State and Local Strategies for healthy eating and active living. This NOFO is in alignment with DNPAO’s mission and its Priority Strategies:

1. Make physical activity safe and accessible for all
2. Make healthy food choices easier
3. Make breastfeeding easier to start and sustain
4. Strengthen obesity prevention standards in early care and education settings
5. Spread and scale family healthy weight programs

All proposed activities will use policy, system and environmental (PSE) approaches that support community level nutrition, physical activity, and child healthy weight through family-centered
programs. All proposed activities must address implementation of PSEs at the community,
county, and regional level.

Recipients are required to collaborate and coordinate with other existing or future CDC-funded
programs in selected geographic areas within the state to complement that work.

Additional Eligibility Category: Land Grant Universities located in states with eligible counties are eligible to apply for funding. No more than one land grant university per state will receive funding.

The program will work in counties with an adult obesity prevalence of over 40% and collaboratively leverage state investments, partnerships, and resources from various sectors (e.g., agriculture, transportation, education, healthcare, parks/recreation, business, housing, and defense/military).

See eligible states and counties HERE.

Funding is for a 5-year project period, pending the continued availability of funding.