The Central Connecticut Health District (CCHD) released the results of its latest five-year health assessment report with some astonishing data. According to the CCHD, 62 percent of residents from the towns of Berlin, Rocky Hill, Newington, and Wethersfield are either overweight or obese, and residents average little more than two servings of vegetables daily.
“We are generally healthy community but we hope that the residents come to understand that there are health issues that exist in our four towns,” said CCHD Community Health Coordinator Hilary Norcia.
The survey gathered responses from 400 residents throughout the area, a statistically significant number, according to Norcia. The combined population of the four towns is approximately 100,000.
The survey calculated overall fatness with the Body Mass Index (BMI), which uses height and weight measurements. The BMI is less reliable than waist measurement in predicting obesity, but is also considered less intrusive. According to the BMI, 22 percent of the community fell into the “obese” category, while 40 percent are “overweight.”
In addition participants answered questions about nutrition, exercise, medical care, and lifestyle choices including smoking. The good news is that 84 percent of respondents perform moderate exercise weekly, but the information about nutrition is more worrisome, said Patricia Checko, Vice Chairperson of the CCHD Board of Directors.
“Generally, socioeconomic status is a big factor in obesity and other health risk factors. The people with the most money have the most opportunity. But we’re such four affluent towns -- why are we so fat? We have wonderful shopping centers everywhere and all kinds of food available to us,” Checko said. “I think people sometimes don’t know how to cook vegetables, or don’t take the time to cook them. You want something you can get on the table quickly, and it’s not always the healthiest choice.”
While 70 percent of participants reported an income of $35,000 yearly or more, the Community Health Assessment Survey did not question respondents on their access to shopping centers.
Checko offered suggestions for residents hoping to impact the statistics. “It’s a combination of changing our personal awareness and big system changes. We have to make the healthy choice the easy choice for people,” Checko said. “One thing that every family could do, even if it’s the only thing you do, is to make everybody sit down and have dinner together once a week.”
The Central Connecticut Health District releases survey results every five years, and offers numerous health programs for the community.
