“Minneosta’s adult obesity
“Obesity occurs in over one-third of adults age 20 or over (BMI > 30). More remarkable is the dramatic weight increase in America’s adolescent youth. According to the NHANES 1999-2000 data, 15% of children ages 6-11 are overweight.” (Sorenson, 2015) These numbers continue to increase in American due to lack of proper nutrition, education, and exercise. This visual picture demonstrates the future generations getting larger and larger due to the obesity epidemic in America. Children and youth are more likely to become obese in recent years and at earlier ages. Early obesity increases the likelihood of adult obesity, but it also increases risk for heart disease as an adult as well as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and high blood sugars. (Pender, Murdaugh, & Parsons, 2015)
“Minneosta’s adult obesity rate is 30.1%, up from 28.4% the previous year (Perry, 2019). Minnesota is ranked 30th out of the 50 states for having the highest rates of obesity. “Just seven years ago, no state had an adult obesity rate above 35 percent. Now, nine states do.” (Perry, 2019) This alarming statistic shows that the U.S. population is continuing to get larger and more unhealthy and likely that future generations will have high obesity rates and more health-related problems. The prevalence of obesity in the U.S. was 42.4% in 2017-2018 (CDC, 2020).
There are a few health disparities I see in my community such as socioeconomic status. We have many people who fall in the lower or poverty socioeconomic status, which are less likely to eat fruits and vegetables and have a higher intake of fatty foods. Another health disparity is the ease of fast food while maintaining a busy work schedule and home life. Many more children today have both parents working outside the home as they did in previous decades which makes fast food a popular item for dinner. We do however, live in a community where fresh fruit and vegetables are readily available in the summer and early fall months, but in the winter and early spring, we do not have access to fresh farmers markets and rely on produce being shipped into markets, which then increases the cost of these items.
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