31 Jul From the community: Giving Everyone a Voice
This article was originally published in the Chicago Tribune. To view the original post, click here.
Kane County Accepting the Challenge to Give Everyone a Voice. (Posted by Dr. Garth Graham, Community Contributor)
As a physician, I prescribe a well-balanced diet and regular exercise to my patients to prevent obesity, and but when I meet patients in my office, I know that I’m only seeing part of the picture. According to the 2014 Kane County Community Health Needs Assessment, many residents of Kane County struggle to make healthy eating and active living part of their daily routine. More than 75 percent of county adults do not eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
Currently in Kane County, Illinois, more than 340,000 or every two out of three adults are overweight or obese. Obesity is a problem that affects more than one-third of American adults and puts people at a greater risk for serious conditions such as heart disease, high blood pressure and diabetes (NIH).
The Kane County Health Department is one of 50 city and county finalists selected as part of the Healthiest Cities & Counties Challenge, a partnership between the Aetna Foundation, the American Public Health Association and the National Association of Counties. The Challenge is a national initiative that empowers small to mid-size cities and counties to make a positive health impact in their community. Visit http://www.healthiestcities.org/map/kane-county-illinois to learn more about the efforts to combat addressable determinants of health in Kane County.
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