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What is the Problem:
The
issue of overweight and obesity is a serious national health
epidemic, and here in Berrien
County, 31.1% of the population is considered obese. Our number of
obese residents is higher in comparison to the state of Michigan
(26.2%) and the nation (24.4%). Not only are our adults getting
heavier, but so are our children. The percentage of children and
teens that are overweight has doubled since the 1970s.
These
increasing rates raise concern because of their implications for
our community’s
health. Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many
diseases and health conditions including diabetes, heart disease,
and certain types of cancer.
Needed Outcomes:
Unhealthy
eating, physical inactivity and tobacco exposure are three risk
factors that contribute significantly to the development of many
chronic diseases.
By creating an environment - at all levels including
society, community, organizational, and interpersonal - that makes
it easy for people to buy and eat healthy food, be physically
active, and not smoke, we can greatly improve the health of our
community.
For More Information,
Contact:
Theresa Green, AA-C, MBA
Director of Community Health Planning
Berrien County Health Department
769 Pipestone, P.O. Box 706
Benton Harbor, MI 49023
269-927-5607
tgreen@bchdmi.org
Visit:
Building Healthy Communities
website - www.michigan.gov/healthycommunities
Michigan Health Tools Website -
www.mihealthtools.org
National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent
Childhood Obesity -
www.nplanonline.org
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What Can You DO to help?
Community members from diverse backgrounds are
needed to make this project successful.
Policy makers, residents, health professionals, city
leaders, developers, and farmers are only a few examples of
the unique talent needed to find creative solutions to this
problem. If you
would like to find out how you can make a difference; how
you can improve the health of your community by changing
your environment contact the health department at tgreen@bchdmi.org..
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To get this
information in a downloadable fact sheet, click here:
Building
Health Communities
Fact
Sheet
Michigan
Building Healthy Communities
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