A Montana program that works to fight obesity in the state will receive a federal grant for a total of more than $4 million over the next five years.

The Montana Nutrition and Physical Activity Program to Prevent Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases, administered by Montana State University, will receive $823,955 a year from the Centers for Disease Control grant. That is nearly double the amount the program has been receiving from the CDC each year since 2004.

According to program manager Ninia Baehr, pilot programs were started in a few areas of the state with past grant money. She said the increased money will allow the program to expand statewide.

"I think this is wonderful for Montana," she said.

Baehr said the program will be broken down into 13 regions across the state with one county or tribal health department taking the lead for its region.

Participating health departments will be asked to focus on one of four areas:

&*8226 working with employers to make it easier for their workers to be physically active;

&*8226 working with hospitals to increase the rate of mothers who begin breast feeding their children and increase the duration of breast feeding;

&*8226 doing nutrition environment measurement surveys, in which counties assess the pricing of healthy and less healthy food options at stores and work with store managers to increase the promotion and availability of healthier foods; and

&*8226 working with city planners and builders to improve the "built environment" to make areas more conducive to walking and bicycling.

Baehr said one example of the plan at work is Shelby, where the program works with local leaders to promote and measure healthy nutrition and physical activity behaviors among adults and children.

The town added a fitness center to the community's civic center and hired a fitness trainer, which local businesses subsidized. The community also built a six-mile trail connecting the businesses, hospital, homes and schools. Restaurants say patrons are starting to order healthier food items, and major employers are partnering with health care providers to offer obesity-prevention interventions at work.

"That story makes me hopeful," Baehr said. "I think our program has helped a lot in some communities and will continue to help."

Baehr said it will be important for health departments to work with resources such as hospitals and city government to maximize its efforts.

"Obesity is a problem that has so very many causes," she said. "One agency cannot turn this around. Ultimately, I think (the grant) will have a huge impact."

Baehr said the program hopes to enter contracts with county health departments to administer the program.

In the first year, she said, participating counties would enter a six-month contract, during which time they would receive $9,000. In that first six-month period, counties would do training and develop a work plan. After that, counties would be eligible for $18,000 per year.

Baehr said the program has not yet entered into contracts with any counties, but she said officials from the Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department have shown interest and have been helpful about "thinking through how it will work."

She said she's been impressed with both the health department's expertise and the Helena City Commission's awareness of the importance of access to walking and bicycling opportunities.

"I think (Lewis and Clark) is a pretty progressive county," she said.

Officials from the Lewis and Clark City-County Health Department who are familiar with the grant were unavailable for comment Monday.

Features editor Joe Menden: 447-4087 or joe.menden@helenair.com