Select the target population:

Instructions: Explore possible interventions to reduce obesity levels!

  1. Select your target population
  2. See how many calories need to be cut
  3. Implement physical activity, dietary, or other interventions
  4. Watch the energy gap close
Watch a video tutorial for a Single or Multiple intervention demo.

On average, the selected population weighs
pounds, and
% of them were obese in 2009-2010.
In the year 2000, % of the selected population was obese.

We must cut kcal/day to return
to the year 2000 level of obesity.
In the early 1970s, % of the selected population was obese.

We must cut kcal/day to return
to the early 1970s level of obesity.
Total caloric impact from adding physical activities: kcal/day

Total caloric impact from improving dietary intake: kcal/day

Total caloric impact from other strategies: kcal/day

Congrats! You have exceeded the number of calories necessary to reach 1970 levels of obesity by: kcal/day

Reduce the energy gap by increasing physical activities:

or miles. This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
Walking at a speed of 3 miles per hour results in 3.3 Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (METs) for an adult. METs expresses how much energy is needed for physical activities. A value of 1.0 METs is considered the baseline resting metabolic rate when sitting quietly. more...
or miles. This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
Jogging at a speed of 5 miles per hour results in 8.0 Metabolic Equivalent of Tasks (METs) for an adult. METs expresses how much energy is needed for physical activities. A value of 1.0 METs is considered the baseline resting metabolic rate when sitting quietly. more...
This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services recommends at least 60 minutes of physical activity per day. In 2011, only 29% of high school students reached this target. more...
This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
% baseline increase to % MVPA
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. The national baseline average for the amount of time spent in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) is 37%. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommend 50%. more...
This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. The Sports, Play, and Active Recreation for Kids PE intervention increases the amount of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by having PE specialists lead PE time, as opposed to teaching by classroom teachers. more...

Implement for a Full Academic Year

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. The YMCA-driven Food and Fitness Project found an increase of 10.5 minutes of moderate and vigorous physical activity in children ages 5 to 11 years in intervention sites. more...
Implement This results in a caloric impact of
At the individual-level, the caloric impact is
kcal/day
kcal/day
Based on 2009 data, 35% of students living within 1 mile of school walk or bike to school. The intervention estimates the caloric impact of making the remaining 65% of students walk to/from school, based on walking an average distance of 0.5 miles at a 3 mph pace. This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. more...

Reduce the energy gap by improving dietary intake:

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
The caloric impact of reducing daily intake from junk food is based upon a 1-oz. bag of regular potato chips and one regular Oreo cookie. The average number of calories reduced is the same for each person in the selected population, per day. more...
This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
The caloric impact of reducing daily intake from a sugar-sweetened beverage (SSB) is based upon a 12-oz. can and a 20-oz. bottle of regular cola, caffeinated. The average number of calories reduced is the same for each person in the selected population, per day. more...

Implement for a Full Academic Year

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. Across all youth ages 2-19, sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) contributed an average of 224 kcal/day in 1999 to 2004. The intervention assumes that the selected group is replacing the average amount of SSBs consumed for that group during the school day with water. more...
This results in a caloric impact of
At the individual-level, the caloric impact is
kcal/day
kcal/day
By implementing the intervention, the individual is switching from the average of the bottom 10 cereals (by nutrition score) to the top 10, for an average reduction of 15 calories per average cup (roughly the size of a baseball). This intervention assumes no compensation, meaning the individual is simply removing this meal from their daily diet. If the meal is replaced by another food item, the caloric impact will be reduced. more...

Implement for a Full Academic Year

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
This intervention assumes that it is implemented for a full school year (180 days on average), with the daily caloric impact averaged over 365 days. Please note that the evidence for this intervention only applies to high schools currently, as competitive food environments are less strict in high school than they are at other grade levels. The impact on non-high school students would likely be lower on average. more...

Implement Nationally

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
By implementing the intervention, children and youth who currently drink more than 16 ounces per day on average of sugary beverages within food service establishments (as defined by New York City's Department of Health) would limit their daily intake to a maximum of 16 ounces. more...

Other important strategies:

This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
One study estimates that every 1 hour increase in watching TV was associated with a 105.5 kcal increase in total energy intake for middle school-aged students. more...
This results in a caloric impact of kcal/day
One study estimates that every 1 hour increase in video or computer game play was associated with a 92 kcal increase in total energy intake for middle school-aged students. more...