ChooseHealthLA is an effort by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health to build a healthier, more satisfying place to live, learn, work and play for all residents.

The obesity epidemic is one of the most significant public health threats facing Los Angeles County. Obesity rates continue to rise among adults, school-aged children and kids as young as 3 to 4 years of age. Approximately 58% of adults in Los Angeles County are overweight or obese and more than 20% of kids in grades 5, 7 and 9 suffer from obesity.

Being -- or at risk of becoming -- overweight or obese dramatically increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart attack, stroke, diabetes and cancer. These health conditions are expensive to treat and manage. Health care costs associated with overweight- and obesity-related illness and lost productivity totaled $12 billion in 2006 in Los Angeles County alone.

We can start to reverse the trend of obesity by making healthier choices in what we eat and deciding to live a more active lifestyle. Making small changes in fitness and nutrition can lead to big improvements in health and quality of life.