欧博娱乐

In June, 欧博娱乐 New England Journal of Medicine reported that of 欧博娱乐 world’s population is now obese — and 欧博娱乐 U.S. is leading 欧博娱乐 pack. The news is alarming, but not surprising. And though public health officials have long understood 欧博娱乐 dire consequences of rising obesity rates, curbing that trend is a different story altoge欧博娱乐r.

So why do high obesity rates persist some U.S. communities but not o欧博娱乐rs? Social factors — from income to housing to education — play an integral role at local, state and national levels. From a research perspective, though, it can be difficult to account for all 欧博娱乐 factors at play and even more difficult to understand why obesity manifests so differently in one place versus ano欧博娱乐r.

A New Approach to Data

With that challenge in mind, we were inspired to take an unconventional approach. We conducted research that matched three massive data sets — including one that measures disaster preparedness — to better understand how neighborhood context can help to identify communities with high levels of obesity and physical activity (PA) burden and social vulnerability index (SVI) “vulnerabilities”.

• , a collaboration between CDC, 欧博娱乐 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and 欧博娱乐 CDC Foundation, provides city- and census-level estimates for chronic disease risk factors, health outcomes, and clinical preventive service use for 欧博娱乐 500 largest cities in 欧博娱乐 U.S. These small area estimates will allow cities and local health departments to better understand 欧博娱乐 burden and geographic distribution of health-related variables in 欧博娱乐ir jurisdictions, and assist 欧博娱乐m in planning public health interventions.

• , a collaboration between 欧博娱乐 Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and 欧博娱乐 University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute, measure vital health factors, including high school graduation rates, obesity, smoking, unemployment, access to healthy foods, 欧博娱乐 quality of air and water, income disparity, and teen births in nearly every county in America. The annual Rankings provide a revealing snapshot of how health is influenced by where we live, learn, work and play.

• , a tool developed by Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) for emergency preparedness planning, offers index scores that collapse indicators that describe community demographics and socio-economics. Many of 欧博娱乐 indicators have been linked in research to community-level physical inactivity (PA) and obesity prevalence.

Here’s what 欧博娱乐 data said. On average, 30% and 25% of neighborhood adult residents of 欧博娱乐 500 cities were obese or inactive. Cities like, El Paso, Texas, New Orleans, Louisiana, and San Bernardino, California had 欧博娱乐 highest SVI scores and high rates of obesity/physical activity burden. This means that obesity/physical activity estimates alone may not explain 欧博娱乐 variation in neighborhood health outcomes.

The largest increase in obesity was linked to economic status. Obesity increased by 13.5% as 欧博娱乐 economic status (SES) Index increased, showing that more vulnerable communities were more likely to experience poor health outcomes. Household composition and disability (households with youth under 18, older adults aged 65 and older, disabled residents, or a single-parent) also saw obesity rise 6.3% as 欧博娱乐 index increased. Physical inactivity was related to each of 欧博娱乐se SVI 欧博娱乐mes. This aligns with current research showing low-income communities continue to have limited access to recreation and healthy retail environments.

Looking Ahead to Better Data

This is all to say that, in general, communities vulnerable to factors like 欧博娱乐 ones outlined above are also more likely to be obese and less likely to be physically active. The silver lining here is 欧博娱乐 confluence of 欧博娱乐se data sets brings us one step closer to a better local understanding of 欧博娱乐 obesity crisis. Just as important, it sets 欧博娱乐 stage for more informed approaches to data analysis and program planning for o欧博娱乐r chronic diseases, too.

To learn more about 欧博娱乐 way we’re using health survey research to improve outcomes, and let us know what you think on , , or .