Arkansas, which has the third-highest obesity rate in the United States, is addressing the health crisis through nutrition education programs provided by the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s Cooperative Extension Service.
According to 2024 data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Arkansas is tied for third in the nation for obesity rates. The 2025 Arkansas Health Survey found that obesity is particularly concentrated in rural areas, with 99 of the state’s 440 rural census tracts showing obesity rates of 45 percent or higher.
The extension service employs seven registered dietitian nutritionists and one registered nutrition and dietetics technician throughout the state to combat these health challenges.
“Nutrition is transformative,” said Nina Roofe, assistant vice president for family and consumer sciences for the Division of Agriculture. “It is essential for life, growth, development, learning and thriving in our complex world.”
The programs reach thousands of Arkansans annually. In 2025, the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) reached more than 4,000 adults, youth and families statewide. Among adult graduates, 97 percent reported adopting healthier nutrition practices.
MaLinda Coffman, Fulton County extension family and consumer sciences agent, emphasized the evolving nature of nutrition science. “Science is dynamic, it’s not static,” Coffman said. “It’s going to change and evolve, and we have to change and evolve with it.”
Julian Carpenter, Independence County extension agent, shared a success story of a client who lost 45 pounds after receiving guidance on eating for a health diagnosis. “To put it simply, good nutrition can lead to healthy individuals and strong families, which leads to a productive workforce and thriving communities,” Carpenter said.
The extension service also provides ServSafe training and food preservation programs. Last year, these programs provided more than 10,000 hours of education through in-person classes, demonstrations and web-based instruction.
The nutrition education efforts are being highlighted during National Nutrition Month in March, an observance established by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics.
More information about extension health programs and nutrition resources is available at uaex.uada.edu.
