Transcript The Burden of Obesity in North Carolina

The Burden of Obesity in
North Carolina
Obesity-Related Chronic Disease
Obesity-Related Chronic Disease

More than half (53%) of all deaths of North
Carolinians are preventable.

Overweight and obesity are significantly
associated with diabetes, high blood pressure,
high cholesterol, asthma, arthritis, and poor
health status.

Inadequate fruits and vegetables, lack of leisure
time physical activity, obesity, and overweight
make up 80% of N.C.’s risk factor or behaviors.
Preventable Causes of Death in N.C.
Preventable Causes of Death
in North Carolina (2007)
Tobacco Use
13,720
Diet/Physical Inactivity
12,583
2,653
Alcohol Consumption
2,350
Microbial Agents
Toxic Agents
1,743
Medical Error
1,516
Motor Vehicles
1,364
Firearms
910
Uninsurance
758
Unsafe Sex
606
Illicit Drug Use
531
0
2,000
4,000
6,000
8,000
10,000 12,000 14,000 16,000
Estimated Number of deaths
State Center for Health Statistics, North Carolina Department of Health and Human
Services, (2007).
The Burden of Obesity in
North Carolina
Asthma
Asthma

Obesity is associated with a higher prevalence
of asthma.

Obesity was significantly related to use of
prescription asthma inhalers, asthma
episodes/attacks, and emergency room (ER)
visits.

Asthmatics who are obese:


have to use prescription asthma inhalers more often
than non-obese asthmatics
have more asthma episodes/attacks and make more
ER visits
Asthma
Percentage of Adults
Percentage of NC Adults Who Currently Have or Have
Ever Had Asthma, by BMI (2007)
30
Healthy
Weight
25
20
15
10
10.5%
15.6%
10.1%10.9%
Overweight
7.0% 6.5%
5
Obese
0
Currently have Asthma
Ever had Asthma
Source: North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System Survey, N.C. State Center for Health
Statistics, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services, 2007.