Health Promotion and Disease Prevention

Why is this important?

The percentage of obese adults is an indicator of the overall health and lifestyle of a community. Obesity increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including heart disease, type 2 diabetes, cancer, hypertension, stroke, liver and gallbladder disease, respiratory problems, and osteoarthritis. Being obese also carries significant economic costs due to increased health care spending and lost earnings. Obesity is the second leading preventable cause of death in the United States.

Why is this important?

Since 1980, obesity has more than tripled among U.S. children, though levels have recently stabilized in certain groups. Obese children are at heightened risk for hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, respiratory ailments, psychological stress, and lower quality of life. Approximately 80% of teens remain obese into adulthood. If chronically obese, there is an increased risk for heart disease, certain cancers, stroke, depression and a number of other significant health problems in adulthood.

In 2018, almost 19% of 5th grade students were obese in Orange County compared to over 21 % of California 5th graders and relatively on par with national averages. Obese 5th graders are more likely to come from economically disadvantaged homes compared to children of normal weight.

Why is this important?

Diabetes is a leading cause of death in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, 2020), more than 25 million people have diabetes, including both diagnosed and undiagnosed cases. Diabetes can have a harmful effect on most of the organ systems in the human body; it is a frequent cause of end-stage renal disease, non-traumatic lower-extremity amputation, and a leading cause of blindness among working age adults. Persons with diabetes are also at increased risk for ischemic heart disease, neuropathy, and stroke. According to the CDC, the direct medical expenditures attributable to diabetes are over $116 billion annually. Diabetes disproportionately affects minority populations and the elderly, and its incidence is likely to increase as minority populations grow and the U.S. population ages.