Using tobacco settlement funds to support and sustain a statewide obesity prevention initiative: North Carolina's Fit Initiatives

The percentage of overweight children in North Carolina is rapidly increasing, and our state leaders recognize the importance of not only early intervention, but also program sustainability. Sustaining efforts to promote and reach healthy weight among children can help reduce health risks over time. The North Carolina Health and Wellness Trust Fund (HWTF) was created as one of three entities to invest North Carolina's portion of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement. Through its Fit initiatives, HWTF is employing a multi-level approach to sustain its childhood obesity prevention efforts.

Through the Fit Together initiative, HWTF awarded grants to 21 organizations across North Carolina to address obesity prevention in children and their caregivers. These grantees are now in their final year of funding and have successfully built programs and are employing sustainability efforts by advocating for healthy changes in their local schools and communities.

Four other Fit initiatives have been created to continue to address obesity in North Carolina. Fit Kids is designed to provide training and resources to 46,000 public school teachers who are tasked with incorporating physical activity into their classrooms. Fit Communities is a designation and grant program that recognizes municipalities that have established healthy environments. Fit Families, a study committee, has successfully influenced statewide nutrition and physical activity policy. Fit Workplace is designed to help implement effective worksite wellness programs. HWTF aims to use these multi-level initiatives to create sustainable changes that will reduce obesity and improve the health of children, and ultimately all North Carolinians.