TOOELE COUNTY, Utah (ABC 4 News) - Tooele County has the unfortunate title of the fattest county in the state. 30.7% of the county is obese, that's an obvious problem and the county is working on a plan to fix that.
Ask people in the county, and they see the problem.
Crystal Hillyard blamed the obesity problem on choices. Hillyard said, "Lower income families and we just take our kids to Arby's or McDonald's."
Eric McNeill said people don't get out enough, "It does not a lot of people drive."
The problem is an obvious concern for the health department.
Jeff R. Coombs from the Tooele County Health Department told ABC4, "It is going to take a community approach to solve something this size."
The county is planning to fight back, working with county leaders to fight the problem. As far as the how, right now the county is formulating a multi-year county wide plan.
Coombs said the goal is to, "Educate."
While education is an obvious start there has been some talk of zoning changes, limiting where you can and cannot have fast food. That idea is coming with hesitation.
Crystal Hillyard said, "That could be helpful, but it is going too far. We need the business and the money."
And the County agrees with the concern.
Coombs said, "We realize in this community personal choice is a high priority and we value and appreciate that."
The county realizes they have a lot of work to do, but they have the conversation going and they hope to make a change for the entire county.
