Columbus, Ohio (AP) -- The Ohio Department of Health says the state can stop or reverse the annual growth of obesity among adults and children within five years, but that it first must promote greater access to healthy food and exercise.
By promoting greater access to healthy food and exercise.
The Department's "Ohio obesity prevention plan" was released on Tuesday.
It also says state officials should focus efforts on preventing more Ohioans from becoming obese, rather than promoting weight-loss among those already seriously overweight.
Gov. Ted Strickland directed the department to formulate the comprehensive plan last September.
A government survey in 2007 found that 28.1 percent of adults in the state were obese, while an Ohio Department of Health study found almost 19 percent of Ohio third graders were obese.
(Copyright 2009 by the Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
