Organizations Say "One Size Fits All" Method Won't Be Enough to Combat Childhood Obesity in Wisconsin

Wednesday, October 25th, 2023 -- 12:00 PM

(By Hope Kirwan, Wisconsin Public Radio) As state lawmakers look for ways to reduce childhood obesity in the state, organizations working to improve community health outcomes say a "one size fits all" approach won't be enough to move the needle.

The Assembly Speaker's Task Force on Childhood Obesity held its first public hearing in Wisconsin Rapids on Monday. The bipartisan group was created in August to study factors contributing to obesity in children and find ways to combat the problem through research and community engagement.

Almost 15 percent of Wisconsin children ages 2 to 17 years are obese, according to data from the University of Wisconsin-Madison's School of Medicine and Public Health program. 

One of the highest rates of obesity in the state is in Menominee County, where more than 40 percent of adults are obese. Jennifer Gauthier, director of the Sustainable Development Institute at the College of Menominee Nation, told lawmakers during the hearing that her county has had the worst health ranking in the state for years.

But she said members of the Menominee Nation know the data is impacted by a lot more than health behaviors.

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