Working Together
for a Fit CNY

Obesity Project Outline

Guided by Healthy People 2010 and data from the Onondaga County Health Department, Commission members began to assess the top health priorities for the region in late 2003/early2004.  Overweight and obesity unanimously topped the list of every member as a health priority that required further community action.

In May of 2004, the Commission chartered the assistance of Master of Public Administration students at The Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at Syracuse University.  The students were charged with developing a countywide plan for obesity prevention and treatment in Onondaga County.  In addition, the students were asked to make specific recommendations for the Commission’s role in this health initiative. 

Rationale is based upon:

• Approximately 59.5% of Onondaga County residents age 18 and older are overweight or obese
• Approximately 64% of all American are classified as overweight or obese
• Approximately 15% of children are classified as overweight or at risk of overweight
• Being overweight contributes to many chronic health conditions
• Direct and indirect economic costs of obesity are great ($6.1 billion in New York State in 2003)

Highlights of the students’ work included the development of a detailed Resource Guide and a Report that recommended improving communication among current programs and services, as well as the specific suggestion to host a “kick-off” event in which representatives from various community sectors would discuss collaborative approaches in preventing obesity.

• Resource Guide text
• Report text

A workgroup was established to plan and coordinate this event.  Representatives of the Commission, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and the Onondaga County Health Department met over several months to plan this “kick-off” event, which occurred November 17, 2004 at the OnCenter.

Read More About:
The Community Call to Action:
Obesity in Onondaga County Kick-Off Event