Maintaining a healthy weight for every individual, young and old, requires a balance of calories. People gain weight when they eat and drink more calories than they burn, including calories burned during physical activity.

Being overweight or obese increases a person’s risk for depression, discrimination and chronic diseases including coronary heart disease, stroke, diabetes and some cancers. These risks are increasing at an alarming rate for both adults and children.

Our surrounding environments affect our food choices and our opportunities to be physically active. These environments where we work, live and play directly contribute to our ability to balance healthy eating with physical activity.

The Oregon Public Health Division works with counties, tribes, schools, employers, health care providers and many other community partners to give people living in Oregon the chance to eat more fruits, vegetables and other nutrient-rich foods, and increase access to affordable physical activity opportunities. Doing so is the best way to fight obesity.