County residents are getting heavier
There is bad news and good news on the obesity front for Multnomah County, according to the fall 2008 Community Health Assessment Quarterly report (report available at http://www.mchealth.org/hra/haq/fall_2008_obesity.pdf). The bad news is that since 1993, there has been a rise in the total proportion of obese and overweight adults in Multnomah County. In 2006, 53% of residents over the age of 18 were either overweight or obese, up from 45% in 1993. Adult males are outweighing females, 61% to 44%.
The good news is that Multnomah County residents aren’t as heavy as adults in Oregon and the U.S. where the proportion of overweight and obese adults were 61% and 63% respectively in 2006.
“Obesity clearly has a negative impact on the quality of life,” says Lillian Shirley, Multnomah County Health Department Director. “It is well known that obesity contributes to higher numbers of people with diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol and heart disease.”
In addition to the physical and psychological toll of these diseases, it is estimated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that obesity and associated health problems cost Oregon approximately $781 million in direct and indirect medical costs in 1998-2000.
Data shows disparities in the prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults in Multnomah County, with Native Americans/Alaska Natives or Hispanics having the highest percentages. However, the prevalence of obesity in 2004-2005 among local African Americans was lower than the same population nationwide in 2005 – 28% countywide vs. 34% nationally. The proportion of Asian Americans in Multnomah County who were overweight or obese was almost 42% in 2005, compared to 36% nationally in 2006.
Obesity among youth is another big concern. The 2005-06 Oregon Health Teen survey noted that approximately 10% of Multnomah County 8th grade and 11th grade students were overweight.
According to health officials, the most important factors in maintaining a healthy weight are nutrition and physical activity. Most adults are not meeting nutrition recommendations of 5 daily servings of fruits and vegetables and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity on most days.
“We are taking the battle against obesity very seriously in Multnomah County, with a focus on changing our living environment, including encouraging walking and bicycling-friendly communities and giving consumers the ability to make informed choices through restaurant menu labeling,” says Shirley.
Posted on November 18, 2008
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