Oklahoma Sees Early Progress Against Obesity as TSET Leads Healthy Eating Efforts
For years, Oklahoma has ranked among the states with the highest obesity rates. New health data now show a small but meaningful shift. Obesity rates in Oklahoma are starting to decline as more Oklahomans incorporate physical activity and nutritious eating into their daily lives.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, known as TSET, has spent more than a decade helping Oklahomans eat better, move more and be tobacco free. Through research-backed programs like Shape Your Future, TSET is working statewide to make healthy choices easier for families, schools and communities. That work is getting added attention this month during National Nutrition Month.
Through Shape Your Future, TSET is sharing simple, everyday tips that help Oklahomans eat healthier where they live, work and learn.
Recent data show fewer adults in Oklahoma are living with obesity compared to past years. Adult obesity rates declined from 40% in 2022 to 36.8% in 2024, while childhood obesity fell from 21.4% to 16.9%, reflecting meaningful progress across age groups. Better access to clear nutrition information and practical tools play an important role in that progress.
“Change happens when people have clear, simple information they can use,” said Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “TSET’s mission is to improve health across Oklahoma by focusing on prevention of chronic disease. Helping families build basic nutrition skills supports that goal and helps reduce chronic disease over time.”
Shape Your Future focuses on everyday habits that fit real life. The program encourages eating more fruits and vegetables, drinking water instead of sugary drinks and cooking meals at home when possible. All resources are free and designed to work for busy schedules and tight budgets.
Instead of promoting short-term trends, Shape Your Future shares easy steps people can take right now, like learning how to read a food label, understanding portion sizes and building a balanced plate. These small changes can add up to better health over time.
Obesity can raise the risk for serious health problems. Helping people build healthier habits earlier can make a real difference over time.
“When we invest in prevention and education, we create healthier communities today and a stronger future for our state,” Bisbee said.
Oklahomans can find free recipes, meal planning tools and nutrition tips at ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
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Shape Your Future is a community health education intervention that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free. Shape Your Future strives to educate parents, teachers, caregivers and all Oklahomans on how to make the healthy choice the easy choice. Find more information online at ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is building a healthier future for all Oklahomans. As a state grantmaking entity, TSET supports community programs, public health initiatives and research to prevent the leading causes of chronic disease. TSET grants and partnerships help to reduce tobacco use, improve nutrition, advance medicine and increase access to active, healthy living. Created by voters and funded by the Master Settlement Agreement, TSET is creating lasting change in schools, workplaces and communities across the state. Learn more at Oklahoma.gov/TSET.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health