Key points
- CDC funds 16 land grant universities to carry out the High Obesity Program (HOP).
- The current 5-year program (CDC-RFA-DP-23-0013) runs from 2023 to 2028.
- HOP supports policy, systems, and environmental changes to address health disparities related to nutrition, physical activity, and obesity.
- HOP celebrates its 10th anniversary in 2024.
Background
Celebrating 10 years
Since 2014, CDC has awarded more than 40 cooperative agreements to land grant universities. These institutions work through community extension services to make healthy eating and active living easier for all.
HOP helps to reduce health disparities in mostly rural counties with adult obesity rates greater than 40%. The effort focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, designing safe and convenient places for physical activity, and reducing obesity.
HOP helps to reduce health disparities in mostly rural counties with adult obesity rates greater than 40%. The effort focuses on increasing access to healthy foods, designing safe and convenient places for physical activity, and reducing obesity.
HOP works in counties where 40% or more of adults have obesity. Obesity in the United States affects 4 in 10 adults and 2 in 10 children. Obesity accounts for about $173 billion in health care costs every year.
The program's goal is to make healthy eating and active living more accessible and affordable. The universities work with state investments and resources. Partners represent many professions, such as agriculture, transportation, education, health care, parks and recreation, business, housing, and defense and military.
The universities work with community extension services on evidence-based strategies for: