Tennessee State Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity Profile

Many American communities lack environments that could support healthy diets and regular physical activity. Healthy dietary and physical activity practices can lower the risk for heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers.^1,2

In addition, excess calorie intake and physical inactivity contribute to obesity, which is associated with some of the leading preventable chronic diseases, including heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. Among adults, the medical costs associated with obesity are an estimated $147 billion.^1,2,3

Public health approaches can help make healthy options available, accessible, and affordable. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) supports the nation to establish sustainable programs to improve dietary quality, increase physical activity, and reduce obesity and overweight. DNPAO funds and works with state health departments through a cooperative agreement (State Public Health Actions to Prevent and Control Diabetes, Heart Disease, Obesity and Associated Risk Factors and Promote School Health program).

This profile highlights data on dietary quality, physical activity, and obesity in Tennessee and select activities funded with this cooperative agreement. For more information about CDC’s work to support healthy eating and physical activity, please see the DNPAO website.

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Population Statistics

Estimated Population of Tennessee: 6,600,299⁴

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Adult Statistics

Dietary Behaviors⁵

• 44.8% of adults reported consuming fruit less than one time daily.
• 24.3% of adults reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.

Physical Activity⁵

• 37.7% of adults achieved the equivalent of at least 150 minutes of moderate intensity physical activity per week.

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 35.9% of adults were overweight.
• 31.2% of adults had obesity.

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Adolescent Statistics

Dietary Behaviors⁵

• 45.4% of adolescents reported consuming fruit less than one time daily.
• 45.9% of adolescents reported consuming vegetables less than one time daily.

Physical Activity⁵

• 25.4% of adolescents were physically active at least 60 minutes per day on all 7 days in the past week.

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 15.4% of adolescents were overweight.
• 16.9% of adolescents had obesity.

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Child Statistics

Breastfeeding⁵

• 72.6% of infants were ever breastfed.
• 43.1% of infants were breastfed for at least 6 months.

Overweight and Obesity⁵

• 15.2% of children aged 2 to 4 years in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program were overweight.
• 15.3% of children aged 2 to 4 years in WIC had obesity.

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State Activities

Tennessee worked on the following select activities during the first 2 years of the State Public Health Actions program.

• Partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to pilot the Healthy Park, Healthy Person program. The program creates resources, such as park prescription pads and toolkits, to assist health professionals in connecting young people and adults with close-to-home opportunities for recreation and health.
• Provided the Gold Sneaker certificate training to early care and education (ECE) centers. Nearly 350 ECE centers statewide completed these trainings that support physical activity promotion in their facilities.
• Partnered with the Tennessee Hospital Association to help launch a statewide breastfeeding campaign. The campaign includes print ads in the regional Parents Magazine publications, posters for providers, and social media. Breastfeeding posters will be distributed to all Tennessee birthing hospitals, obstetricians, pediatricians and other entities in an effort to increase the rate and duration of breastfeeding statewide.
• Partnered with the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation to increase healthier food options in selected state park cafeterias.

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