Making the Healthy Choice the Easy Choice

South Carolina Facts

Obesity-related medical expenditures for adults in SC total over $1 billion – half is financed by Medicaid and Medicare.

About

What is Eat Smart, Move More SC?

The SC Eat Smart Move More Coalition coordinates obesity prevention efforts across the state and leads the implementation of South Carolina’s Obesity Prevention Plan. The intent of this coalition is ongoing collaboration between state agencies, business and industry, health care organizations, schools, academia, community based groups and coalitions and a broad range of other stakeholders to capitalize and leverage differing areas of expertise, skill and resources to impact obesity in South Carolina.

Vision

A South Carolina in which healthy eating and active living are essential to the everyday culture where we live, work, learn, pray and play.

Mission

To lead a unified movement to make the healthy choice the easy choice.

Brochure

Please click here for our informational brochure

Why Eat Smart, Move More SC?

During the past few years, the rising level of obesity in our country has become a well-known problem. Overweight and obese adults are at increased risk for diabetes, hypertension, stroke, certain cancers, heart disease, high cholesterol, gall bladder disease, sleep apnea, depression, osteoarthritis and asthma. Obesity rates in South Carolina have more than doubled since 1990, with almost two-thirds of our adult citizens considered overweight or obese. In addition,

  • South Carolina has the ninth worst overweight or obesity rate in the nation. Three out of every five South Carolina adults are either overweight or obese. Twenty-nine percent are obese.
  • Of those South Carolinians who are overweight or obese, 37.5% have high blood pressure, 11.7% have diabetes, and 5.1% have coronary heart disease.
  • The economic impact of obesity and overweight population in terms of illness, diseases and lost productivity is significant. In 2003, obesity-related medical expenditures for adults in South Carolina total over $1 billion, with over half of the costs being financed by Medicaid and Medicare.
  • Over one third of middle school students in South Carolina are overweight or obese.
  • Approximately one half of all African American children in rural areas of South Carolina are overweight or obese.

These statistics translate into monumental problems our state must confront and overcome in terms of serious health conditions, rising healthcare costs and a decline in the overall quality of  life for affected citizens. Eat Smart, Move More SC brings together key players to create, implement and evaluate appropriate strategies to create environments supportive of healthy eating and active living.

Eat Smart, Move More SC Accomplishments

  • The establishment of 7 local chapters of Eat Smart, Move More SC working in Beaufort, Jasper, Berkeley, Dorchester, Charleston, Kershaw, York, Colleton, Lexington and Florence counties.
  • Complete Streets Toolkit and Advocacy Manuals to assist local communities on how to implement a local Complete Streets policy and incorporate the concepts of complete streets into city planning and design.
  • 7 Healthy Habits awareness campaign to highlight seven simple ways South Carolinians can take small steps to achieve big results, including seven radio and television public service announcements that have run in all SC media markets.
  • Farmers’ Market Toolkit that addresses increasing the availability and affordability of locally grown produce, which also benefits the local economy.
  • Online Options for Action is a web-based tool designed to provide guidance for implementation of obesity prevention programs and strategies in specific settings including
    schools, faith, worksite, communities, childcare and healthcare).
  • Online Breastfeeding Resource Guide is a web-based tool that provides trusted resources for breastfeeding promotion and support for professionals and the general public.
  • Annual Obesity Prevention Summit that brings together key stakeholders to develop and implement strategies to prevent obesity in South Carolina.
  • Complete Streets Training – Training communities in South Carolina on the concepts of complete streets and how to advocate for local complete streets resolutions.
  • School Gardens – Partnering with Dept. of Agriculture to promote school garden projects throughout the state.
  • Worksite Mother’s Lounge – Partnering with the SC Breastfeeding Coalition to support the creation of Mother’s Lounges at the workplace.
  • Working Well – Partners with the SC Hospital Alliance to survey all hospitals in South Carolina to assess and monitor policies and environments supportive of healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco and a culture of wellness