Source: National Cancer Institute: State Cancer Legislative Database Program, Bethesda, MD, 2010

Building 31, Room 10A48 • 31 Center Drive, MSC 2580 • Bethesda, Maryland 20892-2580 • 301 496 5217 • 301 402 1225 fax • http://www.scld-nci.net

The SCLD contains information synthesized from state-level laws. The SCLD does not contain state-level regulations; executive orders; measures implemented 

by counties, cities, or other localities; opinions of Attorneys General; or data addressing the implementation of state laws—all of which may vary from the laws 

reported here.

Obesity has risen to epidemic levels in the United States and 

has been linked to several life threatening chronic diseases, 

including cancer.1 State policies that are carefully aimed at 

prevention of obesity could profoundly reduce health care 

costs, improve quality of life for citizens, and create a powerful cancer prevention tool. Forty-six states and the District 

of Columbia (collectively, states) have enacted legislation 

regarding obesity prevention. The legislation varies in focus; 

however, the majority of state efforts have centered on 

schools. Understanding these policy efforts is important in 

assessing states’ progress in addressing the prevention 

of obesity.

All states except Delaware, North Dakota, South Dakota,

and Wyoming have enacted at least one law or 2010 resolution addressing obesity prevention through food policy. 

California, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, 

Mississippi, Pennsylvania, and Texas have enacted legislation addressing all eight obesity prevention categories monitored by the SCLD Program. 

School Based. Forty-two states have enacted legislation 

that addresses obesity prevention specifically in the school 

setting.

Nutrition Education. Thirty-seven states have enacted laws

addressing the provision of nutrition- or obesity preventionrelated information or instruction to students and/or teachers, food service workers, the public, or healthcare workers. 

Twenty-four states have enacted laws requiring the inclusion 

of nutrition education in curriculum guidelines for local 

school districts. 

State Capacity. Thirty-five states have enacted laws addressing state or local infrastructure dedicated to improving nutrition and/or preventing obesity. 

Competitive Foods. Competitive foods are those served 

outside of the federal school meals program at access points 

such as à la carte lines, vending machines, school stores, 

or fundraisers. Thirty-four states have passed laws in this area. 

Reimbursable Meals. For students who qualify based on their 

families’ income levels, school meals are provided for free or 

at a reduced rate through a federal-state partnership in participating schools. Thirty-three states have enacted this type 

of legislation, in addition to the current federal regulations 

governing this program. For example, California has enacted 

a law which offers funding for fresh fruit and vegetables 

to supplement the federal reimbursement for the National 

School Breakfast program. In addition, Vermont has enacted 

legislation which offers funding to school districts to initiate 

or expand food programs.

Food Environment. This type of legislation affects food availability and the quality of food within a specific food environment. Thirty-one states have enacted such legislation. Five 

states—Arkansas, California, Illinois, Massachusetts, and 

Oklahoma—have enacted laws to change the food environment by addressing the creation or use of financial incentives 

for either government entities or individuals.

Research. Recognizing the need for accurate data on obesity 

prevention, 27 states have passed laws related to experimental or investigative studies that lead to knowledge about 

obesity prevention. Twelve states have enacted laws which 

specifically address the gathering or use of body mass index 

(BMI) data to measure the incidence and/or prevalence of 

obesity. 

Awareness. Through 2009, eight states had passed laws 

relating to obesity prevention awareness. During the first 

three quarters of 2010, 18 states adopted resolutions and 

one state—California—enacted a law to promote awareness 

or understanding of obesity prevention activities.

1 National Institutes of Health: NIH Obesity Research. Accessed 

August 20, 2010 from: http://obesityresearch.nih.gov/About/about.htm.

National Cancer Institute

U.S. DEPARTMENT 

OF HEALTH AND 

HUMAN SERVICES

National Institutes 

of Health

Obesity Prevention

State Cancer Legislative Database Fact Sheet October 2010

Office of Government and Congressional Relations

Number of States with Enacted Laws and/or 2010 Resolutions 

Addressing Obesity Prevention by Topic (enacted as of September 30, 2010)

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

School

Based

Nutrition

Education

State

Capacity

Competitive

Foods

Reimbursable

Meals

Food

Environment

Research Awareness

42

37

35 34 33

31

27

8

18

Number of states with codied laws

Number of states passing resolutions in 2010
State Laws and/or 2010 Resolutions Addressing Obesity Prevention 

(enacted as of September 30, 2010)

Source: National Cancer Institute: State Cancer Legislative Database Program, Bethesda, MD, 2010.

Key: l = Enacted law n = 2010 resolution

State

School 

Based

Nutrition 

Education

State

Capacity

Competitive 

Foods

Reimbursable

Meals

Food 

Environment Research Awareness

Alabama l l

Alaska l l l l n

Arizona l l l l

Arkansas l l l l l l l

California l l l l l l l l n

Colorado l l l l l l l

Connecticut l l l l l l l

Delaware

District of Columbia l l l l l l l n

Florida l l l l l l l

Georgia l l l n

Hawaii l l l l l n

Idaho n

Illinois l l l l l l l n

Indiana l l l l l l

Iowa l l l l l

Kansas l l l l l n

Kentucky l l l l l l n

Louisiana l l l l l l l n

Maine l l l l l l l

Maryland l l l l l l

Massachusetts l l l l l l l

Michigan l l l l l l

Minnesota l l l l l l l

Mississippi l l l l l l l l n

Missouri l l l

Montana l

Nebraska l

Nevada l l l l l

New Hampshire l l l

New Jersey l l l

New Mexico l l l

New York l l l l l l l

North Carolina l l l l l l l

North Dakota

Ohio l l l l l l n

Oklahoma l l l l l l n

Oregon l l

Pennsylvania l l l l l l l n

Rhode Island l l l l l

South Carolina l l l l l l n

South Dakota

Tennessee l l l l l l

Texas l l l l l l l l

Utah n

Vermont l l l l l l n

Virginia l l l l l l l n

Washington l l l l l l

West Virginia l l l l l l

Wisconsin l l l l l

Wyoming

TOTAL 42 37 35 34 33 31 27 Laws= 8 

Resolutions= 18