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What Is It?
Overweight is usually the result of high caloric intake, lack of physical activity, a predisposing genetic makeup, or often a combination of these factors. Poor diet and lack of physical activity are second only to smoking as a cause of preventable death. Someone who is 40 percent overweight is twice as likely to die prematurely as a person in a healthy weight range. For individuals who are overweight, increased physical activity and improved diet can decrease the risk of developing a chronic disease even without weight loss. Losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds can improve a person's health.
How are Dickinson and Iron Counties doing?
A preliminary report on the regional estimates in the years 1995-1999 (31.8 overweight) show that the U.P. region, as a whole, has a lower overweight population than the State (33.2 overweight). Based on population size, it is estimated that 8,642 adults over age 18 in Dickinson County and 4,190 in Iron County are overweight.
How is the State of Michigan doing?
The percent of Michigan's adult population that is overweight is estimated by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). In the survey, overweight was defined as having a body mass index greater than or equal to 27.8 kg/m2 for men or 27.3 kg/m2 for women.
Survey results indicate that the percent of Michigan's adult population that is overweight has been steadily increasing from 23.5 percent in 1988 to 34.5 percent in 1997.
How does Michigan compare with the U.S.?
Overweight has been increasing in both the U.S. and Michigan, but Michigan residents are among the heaviest in the nation. In 1997, Michigan was the fourth worst in the U.S. with 34.5 percent of its adult population being overweight. The median among states for overweight was 31.1 percent.
The proportion of residents who reported they did not participate in any physical activities, recreation, or exercises in their leisure time (such as running, golfing, or walking for exercise) within the past month has been steadily decreasing. Nearly 22 percent of Michigan adults reported that they did not participate in any physical activity during their leisure time in the past month.
The prevalence of overweight was highest for respondents aged 45-64 at 43 percent. African-Americans were also more likely to be overweight than whites. Overweight is inversely related to education level. Individuals with the lowest education level have the highest prevalence of overweight.
What other information is important to know?
Obesity has been linked to several serious medical conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and stroke. It is also associated with higher rates of certain types of cancer.
Treatment for overweight should include a diet low in fat, rich in high-fiber and complex-carbohydrate foods, and an increase in moderate physical activity. Overweight individuals frequently do not eat enough fruits, vegetables, and whole-grain foods. Only 26 percent of the population eat a minimum of five fruits and vegetables daily. Almost one in three respondents to the 1997 Michigan BRFS had been advised by a doctor to eat fewer high fat or high cholesterol foods. About 40 percent of respondents reported trying to lose weight.
Nearly four in 10 Michigan adults had been advised by a doctor to exercise more. Almost six in
10 respondents reported trying to exercise more. Widespread increase in moderate physical activity,
such as brisk walking, raking leaves, or playing volleyball for 30 minutes a day, would help prevent
the development of obesity in a significant number of individuals.
What are the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department and the Michigan Department of
Community Health doing to affect this indicator?
The Dickinson-Iron District Health Department is actively working to decrease the percent of County residents who are overweight by offering educational programs that address nutrition and physical activity.
In cooperation with the Michigan Department of Community Health, WELCUP, an affiliate of the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness, Health and Sports, and the Michigan Fitness Foundation, the Dickinson-Iron District Health Department has sponsored the development and distribution of a model physical education curriculum for our schools encouraging lifelong physical activity. A network of regional physical fitness councils operates to promote innovative community-based physical activity programs across the state.
The Health Promotion unit has worked to include the ACES (All Children Exercising Simultaneously) program into a year round Youth Developmental Asset concept. The Dickinson- Iron Healthy Youth Coalition promotes Healthy lifestyles in a Healthy Community. ACES on May 2, 2001, and in prior years, promoted exercising with a friend. ACES promotes 30 minutes of exercise five days a week. Youth completing this regimen can significantly improve their health. During the past two years over 1,600 Dickinson-Iron youth have participated. The DIDHD, Dickinson-Iron Healthy Youth Coalition and other community partners sponsored the Fourth Annual Youth Asset Celebration on September 22, 2001, around the ACES theme. The Fall Fitness Day promoted adult mentoring and an exercise friend was the event theme. Over 310 youth and adults visited 40 fitness stations where fitness and asset building for life were stressed. The Health Department utilized Peer Educators to stress fitness free of second- hand smoke or use of tobacco. Sessions were held to point out the false or targeted advertising that companies use on youth.
EPEC (Exemplary Physical Education Curriculum), is a model physical education program in Michigan that addresses significant factors that impact the health of our citizens, especially youth, such as physical activity, obesity, elevated cholesterol and high blood pressure. EPEC has enormous potential to influence and equip young people to understand the importance of physical activity and to obtain the fitness, knowledge, motor skills and personal/social attitudes for a lifetime of physical activity.
The 5-A-Day for Better Health Program works with local communities to promote fruit and vegetable consumption in the context of a low fat, healthy diet. The Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Program provides programs in communities, schools, work sites, churches, and health care systems that focus on healthy eating, increased physical activity, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Youth and specifically teen nutrition issues are part of the "Peer Education" training program. The Peer educators are given factual nutrition lessons and materials to share within their schools. Extensive education on eating disorders and how they affect teenagers is covered in several approaches by different speakers. Additionally, sports physical therapist or health educators cover physical exercise, stretching, warm-up and a variety of activities to promote a lifetime of exercise and fitness.
Seniors are also a priority for the department. Local senior centers across the state and Dickinson and Iron Counties promote and sponsor fitness programs, including walking clubs for the elderly. In addition, the 5-A- Day for Better Health Program was expanded to the state's 450 senior nutrition sites for local programming in 1999. Included in these activities is a training program offered to providers of nutrition services for the elderly on healthful menu planning and preparation.