About Us
Overview
The Tennessee Obesity Taskforce (TOT) represents a broad-based, statewide coalition, which links scientists, clinicians, city planners, school officials, state agencies, policymakers, transportation experts, nutritionists, parents, and representatives of our most vulnerable populations. The taskforce works closely with the Tennessee Department of Health’s Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Program.
Eat Well Play More represents Tennessee’s statewide nutrition and physical activity plan to reduce obesity and chronic disease in Tennessee by 2015. Eat Well, Play More Tennessee exists through the work of its many partner organizations.
The Tennessee Obesity Taskforce was established in 2007 by a group of concerned individuals representing both state and local agencies from Tennessee who attended the Southern Obesity Summit.
Individuals and members of nearly 100 organizations joined forces and contributed long hours and numerous ideas to create Tennessee's first five-year comprehensive statewide nutrition and physical activity plan, Eat Well, Play More Tennessee. Now, hundreds of organizations throughout Tennessee are working together to implement the plan.
History
The process began with a comprehensive review of existing plans and resources within Tennessee and nationally. Phone interviews were conducted with plan coordinators from other states to solicit feedback on their successes and opportunities for improvement. In addition, focus groups were conducted in Bristol, Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, and Nashville to obtain input around the target areas, and invite participation in the creation of the plan.
In order to develop focused strategies around each target area, the Tennessee Obesity Taskforce formed a Steering Committee and work groups that focused on Advocacy, Built Environment/Transportation, early Childcare, Evaluation, Food Systems, Health Systems, Schools, Vulnerable Populations and Worksite Wellness.
Multi-disciplinary stakeholders from throughout the state participated in these work groups and presented recommendations in their respective areas to the steering committee. As the TOT moves forward into implementation of the plan, each work group will work closely with statewide partners to drive the efforts toward formulating and implementing annual action plans.
This five-year plan (2010-2015) is funded by an agreement with the Tennessee's Department of Health through a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (CDC). Tennessee is the 25th state to become a part of CDC's state-based nutrition and physical activity program, created in 1999, to prevent obesity and other chronic diseases through statewide efforts coordinated with multiple partners.
Eat Well, Play More Tennessee was formally launched at the annual meeting of the Tennessee Public Health Association in Franklin, Tenn. on September 16-17, 2010. Supporters of the plan who were in attendance included Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen, Health Commissioner Susan Cooper, and Joseph W. Thompson, M.D., MHP, Arkansas surgeon general and director of the Center for Childhood Obesity at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
