During FY22, Steps to Health messages to support healthy eating and physical activity made 517,070 impressions on social media and 3,804,985 impressions through social marketing implementation of digital advertisements and a text message campaign.  Educational video shorts featuring animated host avatars, Steph and Ned, and based on the adult obesity and chronic disease prevention program Take Control were viewed 1,872 times.

Nutrition education programs reached 3,166 participants (2,795 youth and 371 adults) enrolled in 170 direct education programs.  Additionally, Steps to Health promoted policy, systems, and environmental (PSE) change initiatives in communities receiving direct education by providing site-specific resources and engaging site leadership.  Communities continue to work to increase food security and expand school meals, and Steps to Health provides support for policy, system, and environmental change initiatives to help North Carolinians make the healthy choice the easy choice. PSE change strategies that impacted more than 13,000 North Carolinians by increasing healthy food options, increasing physical activity opportunities, and encouraging healthy choices. Changes in writing and practice to the built environment were made in 16 schools and 31 community sites.

• 37% of participants improved their fruit consumption.
• 42% of 2nd and 3rd Graders used the nutrition facts labels to make food choices.
• 30% of 2nd and 3rd Graders drank less soda

• 57% reported choosing healthy food after participating in the class
• 56% improved their healthy eating behaviors by increasing the amount of fruits they consumed.
• 51% showed an increase in the number of whole grains they consumed.
• 46% improved their physical activity behaviors.