Decreasing obesity and promoting healthy communities by increasing access to healthy foods through state food policy

2. Excess body weight has been linked to chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and certain cancers. The International Agency for Research on Cancer estimates that obesity and physical inactivity may account for 25 to 30% of several major cancers. Recent studies estimate that 3.2% of all new cancers are linked to obesity and 14% of deaths from cancer in men and 20% of deaths in women were due to overweight and obesity. The problem is exacerbated in underserved populations. Many of the causes of health disparities are rooted in society-level policies and norms. Traditionally, state level policy efforts to decrease the incidence of obesity focus on eliminating calorie dense, nutrient poor foods from schools, but obesity is a multifaceted disease that allows for a variety of policy intervention strategies. An examination of health determinants and corresponding policy interventions is necessary to understanding obesity as a complex social justice issue. This research will present the results of a content analysis of laws effective as of 12/31/2009 through 12/31/2010. The laws will be analyzed to assess their potential impact on access to healthy foods among disparate populations. We also will examine state characteristics such as rates of health disparities, farmers markets that accept EBT/WIC, and percent of census tracts with healthy food retailers to better understand the complex issue of food disparities at the state level.