This work in writing examines the obesity rates and demographics in Craven County, North Carolina. A large population of individuals in Craven County, North Carolina have obesity and the top killers in Craven County, North Carolina include heart related disease and diabetes. This work in writing addresses an initiative to fight obesity in Craven County.
Craven County North Carolina Obesity Epidemic
Craven County, North Carolina is located in the Coastal Plains section of North Carolina and is situated halfway between New York and Florida. Craven County is reported to cover 708.43 square miles of land area and is characterized by flat land to gently rolling hills. Craven County is topographically flat with the average elevation approximately 17.5 feet above sea level. Craven County is reported as rural with no metropolitan areas and to be comprised of two cities: (1) New Bern; and (2) Havelock and six other towns that are incorporated. Recreational activities in Craven County are reported to include easy access to water with the terrain, temperature, and climate being conducive to many outdoor recreational activities including sailing, boating, fishing, hunting, golf and other activities.
Demographics
Craven County, North Carolina has a population of 96,892 and the median household income is $38,473. The hardship index in Craven County is stated at 31.8 with 0 being the easiest and 100 being the most difficult. The population of Craven County, North Carolina living below the poverty index is 14.9% of the population. The Demographics for Craven County, North Carolina are reported as shown in the following table labeled Figure 1.
Figure 1. Demographics
DEMOGRAPHICS
% White, 2008
69.6%
% Hispanic, 2008
3.9%
% Asian, 2008
1.3%
% Black, 2008
23.3%
% Hawaiian or Pacific Islander, 2008
0.1%
% Amer. Indian or Alaska Native, 2008
0.4%
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013)
II. Health Status
The following table shows the health status of individuals living in Craven County, North Carolina as compared to its peer counties in the United States.
Figure 2. Health Status of Craven County, North Carolina Compared to Its' Peers
Unfavorable/Unfavorable Quadrant
Low Birth Wt. (
Very Low Birth Wt. (
No Care in First Trimester
Colon Cancer
Suicide
Unfavorable/Favorable Quadrant
Births to Women under 18
Post-neonatal Infant Mortality
Breast Cancer (Female)
Lung Cancer
Motor Vehicle Injuries
Stroke
Favorable/Unfavorable Quadrant
Neonatal Infant Mortality
Unintentional Injury
Favorable/Favorable Quadrant
Premature Births (
Births to Women age 40-54
Births to Unmarried Women
Infant Mortality
White non-Hispanic Infant Mortality
Black non-Hispanic Infant Mortality
Hispanic Infant Mortality
Coronary Heart Disease
Homicide
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013)
III. Access to Care
Access to Care in Craven County, North Carolina is reported to be as follows:
Uninsured individuals (under 65 years of age) 14,532
Medicare Beneficiaries
Elderly (Age 65+) 14,017
Disabled 3,064
Medicaid beneficiaries 16,569
Primary care physicians per 100,000 pop 64.7
Dentists per 100,000 pop 53.7
Community/Migrant Health Centers No
Health Professional Shortage Area No
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2013)
IV. Overweight Children and Adults
According to reports children and youth that are overweight or obese are 30% of the population of Craven County with 37% not getting the recommended fruits servings and 74$ not getting their recommended vegetable servings and 27% not getting the recommended physical activity. The life expectancy of children is declining due to an increase in overweight and one in three American children born in 2000 will develop diabetes in their lifetime. (EatsmartmovemoreNC.com, nd, p.1). Of the restaurants in Craven County, North Carolina 54% of these are fast food restaurants, which compares to the national benchmark of 25% and the North Carolina total of 49% of restaurants being fast food restaurants. Educational level of individuals living in Craven County are stated as follows:
High School Graduate 81%
Some college 63%
Unemployed 10.5%
Children in Poverty 25%
Inadequate social support 19%
Children in Single-parent households 38%
V. Health Status
14% of individuals in Craven County are stated to be in poor or fair health with 3.2% of the population reporting poor physical health days and 3.2% of the population reporting poor mental health days. The average low birth weight in Craven County, North Carolina is stated at 8.8%.
VI. EFNEP Program Reports
The Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program 2012 NC Cooperative Extension Craven County Report states that 73 families participated in EFNEP in Craven County, North Carolina and of these 60% were also WIC participants and 88% of EFNEP participants enrolled in one or more food assistance programs.
Among limited resource adults, it is reported as follows:
76% improved in one or more food safety practices
97% improved in one or more nutrition practices
92% improved in one or more food resource management practices
40% of participants increased the amount of daily physical activity
100% of participants improved their diet
50% drank fewer sugar-sweetened beverages
51% increased number of weekly meals eaten together as a family (EFNEP, 2012)
Among 441 Limited Resource Youths, the following is stated:
66% increased variety of foods in their diet
77% increased their knowledge of human nutrition
88% increased their ability to select low-cost, nutritious foods
23% improved practices in food preparation and safety (EFNEP, 2012)
VI. Obesity Rates
It is reported that 42.4% of non-Hispanic blacks in North Carolina are obese compared to 26.7% of non-Hispanic whites. Additionally stated is that 26.7 of non-Hispanic blacks have diabetes compared to 8.4% of non-Hispanic whites and 4.9% of non-Hispanics. (ERNEP, 2012, p.1)
The adult obesity rate in 2007 for Craven County, North Carolina is stated at 30.3% and the adult diabetes rate stated at 10.3%. Adults meeting activity guidelines in 2007 in Craven County, North Carolina is stated at 60.9%. Statistics on fast food restaurants in Craven County, North Carolina are stated as shown in the following table labeled Figure 2.
VII. Fast Food Restaurants
Fast food restaurant statistics in Craven County, North Carolina are stated as shown in the following table labeled Figure 3.
Figure 3. Fast Food Restaurant Statistics in Craven County, North Carolina
FAST FOOD
# Fast-food restaurants, 2007
63
# Fast-food restaurants, 2008
66
% Change fast-food restaurants, 07-08
4.76%
Fast-food restaurants / 1,000 pop, 2007
0.65
Fast-food restaurants / 1,000 pop, 2008
0.68
% Change fast-food restaurants / 1,000 pop, 07-08
3.87%
Fast-food expenditures per capita, 2002*
$514
Fast-food expenditures per capita, 2007*
$746.02
VIII. Preventive Care Available
Prevention Health Care resources in Craven County include the following:
(1) Carolina-East Medical Center -- 350 bed full-service acute care facility.
(2) Craven County Health Department
(3) Physician services -- 50 physician practices in Craven County.
(4) Eastern Carolina Behavioral Health Services, which is the regional local mental health managing entity (LME) for nineteen counties.
(5) Oral health -- Craven County has many dental practices
(6) MERCI Clinic -- nonprofit community clinic staffed by volunteers;
(7) Pharmacies -- 20 pharmacies.
The leading causes of death in Craven County, North Carolina are stated as the following:
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