The State of New Jerseys health department is starting an Office of Nutrition & Fitness, reportedly making it the first state to create such a government body

The State of New Jersey’s health department is starting an Office of Nutrition and Fitness to better coordinate programs aimed at preventing obesity, reportedly making it the first state to create such a government body. New Jersey has the highest percentage of overweight and obese children under age 5, at 17.7 percent, according to a 2004 survey by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. Setting up the anti-obesity agency was one of many recommendations in the New Jersey Obesity Prevention Action Plan, written by a task force established by the state legislature.