Obesity Statistics and Prevention Activities in Schenectady County
Statistics
Women, Infants and Children (WIC) Indicators
| Indicator | 3 Year Total | County Rate | State Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| % Pregnant Women in WIC Who Were Prepregnancy Overweight (BMI 26 - 29), Low SES (2005-07) | 322 | 14.7 | 15.4 |
| % Pregnant Women in WIC Who Were Prepregnancy Very Overweight (BMI Over 29), Low SES (2005-07) | 674 | 30.8 | 26.1 |
| % Overweight Children in WIC, 2-4 years, Low SES (2004-06) | 556 | 14.0 | 15.2 |
| % of Children in WIC, 0-4 years, viewing TV ≤2 hours per day (2004-06) | 1,417 | 62.0 | 75.5 |
| % of WIC mothers breastfeeding at 6 months (2004-06) | 286 | 18.3 | 38.6 |
Behavior/Risk Indicators (2003)
| Indicator | County Rate | CI # | State Rate | CI # |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % Adults Overweight or Obese (BMI 25+) | 60.7 | ± 4.4 | 56.7 | ± 1.2 |
| % Adults Who Participated in Leisure Time Physical Activity in Last 30 Days | 80.1 | ± 3.3 | 74.6 | ± 1.0 |
| % Adults Eating 5 or More Fruits or Vegetables per Day | 28.5 | ± 4.1 | 25.8 | ± 1.4 |
| % Adults with Physician Diagnosed Diabetes | 6.1 | ± 1.8 | 7.2 | ± 0.6 |
| % Adults with Physician Diagnosed Angina, Heart Attack or Stroke | 8.1 | ± 2.2 | 6.9 | ± 0.5 |
| % Adults with Physician Diagnosed Arthritis | 29.6 | ± 3.8 | 25.7 | ± 1.0 |
Mortality-Related Indicators (2004-2006)
| Indicator | 3 Year Total | County Rate | State Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Rate per 100,000 (ICD10 I00-I99) - Age-adjusted | 1,700 | 264.5 | 285.5 |
| Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) Mortality Rate per 100,000 (ICD10 I60-I69) - Age-adjusted | 229 | 35.7 | 30.5 |
| Diabetes Mortality rate per 100,000 (ICD10 E10-E14) - Age-adjusted | 132 | 22.8 | 18.8 |
Hospitalization-Related Indicators (2004-2006)
| Indicator | 3 Year Total | County Rate | State Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cardiovascular Disease Hospitalization Rate per 10,000 (ICD9 390-459) - Age-adjusted | 10,298 | 183.7 | 184.2 |
| Cerebrovascular Disease (Stroke) Hospitalization Rate per 10,000 (ICD9 430-438) - Age-adjusted | 1,843 | 32.8 | 26.7 |
| Diabetes Hospitalization Rate per 10,000 (Primary Diagnosis ICD9 250) - Age-adjusted | 766 | 15.7 | 19.7 |
Notes
- Age-adjusted rates are based on the 2000 US Census population
- CI # - 95% confidence interval for BRFSS/Expanded BRFSS indicators
Prevention Program Activities Funded by the State Department of Health
Healthy Heart Program
The Capital District Community Gardens (CDCG) in Troy, a non-profit service organization serving the Capital District, helps to improve neighborhoods through community gardening and urban greening programs. The CDCG also launched the "Squash Hunger" program in 2004 and has since collected more than 24,000 pounds of donated produce from members of the community. They continue to increase this number by encouraging local farmers and gardeners to drop off their extra produce at one of the eight "Squash Hunger" collection sites in Albany, Schenectady, and Rensselaer counties.
Overweight and Obesity Prevention Program
The Foundation for Healthy Living, located in Latham, is a tax-exempt public charity created by HealthNow New York, Inc. to improve the health of people living in Upstate New York.The Foundation received a five-year grant to establish a “Center for Best Practices” for the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity in young children. “Preventing Childhood Overweight and Obesity Starts Early” (CHOOSE) focuses on increasing community awareness of the public health threats of early childhood overweight and obesity and increasing obesity screening and counseling among health care providers in Albany, Schenectady, Rensselaer, Saratoga, Warren and Washington counties. The Center partners with multiple organizations such as the Schenectady County Health Department, Capital District YMCA (Schenectady), the American Dairy Association, Price Chopper, the New York State Dietetic Association and Blue Shield of Northeastern New York to develop a website, www.healthykidsny.organd community resource guide, and implement a community-wide social marketing campaign. The Center and its partners sponsor continuing medical education events for physicians, nurses and dieticians, and curricula to support healthy eating, increase physical activity and decrease screen time in child care centers.
Strategic Alliance for Health Program
The New York State Department of Health will fund Schenectady County Public Health Services to implement the “Strategic Alliance for Health” program. The purpose of this program is to create healthier communities through sustainable and evidence-based health promotion and chronic disease prevention interventions. These interventions will focus on changing policy and the environment so residents can lead healthier lives. Each “Strategic Alliance for Health” community will also be expected to mentor other communities in the state on effective policy and environmental change strategies. It is recommended that each “Strategic Alliance for Health” community focus their interventions on populations that suffer disproportionately from the burden of chronic disease.In-kind county staff are currently working to create a community leadership team and to assess the health and well-being of their community. Year one efforts will result in a community action plan that will ultimately address chronic disease within the county. The “Strategic Alliance for Health” program is funded through a five-year cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention between September 2008 and September 2013.
Diabetes Prevention and Control Program
The Capital Region Diabetes Coalition, led by Albany Memorial Hospital in Albany, is one of 15 regional diabetes coalitions funded by the Diabetes Prevention and Control Program. The coalitions provide community-based programming for the prevention of diabetes and its complications. In addition to hosting educational events focused on nutrition, physical activity and diabetes management, the coalitions engage in education for health care providers working with people with or at risk for diabetes, and promote policy, systems, and environmental change. Examples of include expanding walking trails, including healthy choice foods and beverages in vending machines, and offering flex time for employees to take longer walks during their lunchtime.
Schenectady County is one of four counties represented in this coalition's catchment area. Partners include Ellis Hospital, St. Clare's Hospital, and the Schenectady Free Health Clinic. The Coalition provides community diabetes prevention education for at-risk populations, develops worksite wellness policies to promote healthy food choices and opportunities for physical activity in Schenectady worksites, and conducts diabetes management training for local hospital nursing staff.
Eat Well Play Hard
The Cornell Cooperative Extension Association of Schenectady County receives funding through the NYSDOH - Division of Nutrition to implement an Eat Well Play Hard Community Project in Albany, Rensselaer and Schenectady Counties. A community coalition of organizations including the American Dairy Association & Dairy Council, Schenectady County Traffic Safety Program, Roots & Wisdom, Cornell Cooperative Extensions, and a variety of school districts and child care centers, conducted a community assessment and developed a work plan for reducing childhood obesity through improvements to the nutrition and physical activity environment. Examples of some of the environmental changes achieved through the coalition's work include the creation of a community garden located at a playground, promotion of low-fat (1%) milk at the county fair and a practice change at a day care center for purchasing fresh produce from a local community garden.
Increasing Access to Healthy Foods in the Emergency Food Network
Through the Hunger and Nutrition Assistance Program and the Just Say Yes to Fruits and Vegetables Nutrition Education Program, emergency food recipients have increased availability of healthy foods like fresh produce and 1% or fat free milk, and an increased knowledge of how to prepare these foods. Last year, more than $326,000 worth of fresh produce and 1% or fat free milk was made available to emergency food relief organizations in the Regional Food Bank of North Eastern New York region which covers 23 counties. In addition, 3,125 individuals participated in 249 nutrition education workshops in the Regional Food Bank of North Eastern New York region last year.
WIC
The Schenectady County Public Health Services administers the WIC Program at three sites serving approximately 3,400 women, infants and children each month in Schenectady County. WIC has implemented a number of obesity prevention initiatives, including breastfeeding support, Fit WIC physical activity training for parents, patient-centered nutrition education, low-fat milk promotion, and the new WIC food package which includes vegetables and fruits, whole grains, and non-fat and low-fat milk.
Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), a nutrition and meal reimbursement program for day care homes, day care centers and after school programs provides a grant to Capital District Child Care Coordinating Council, Inc. in Albany, to implement Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings in Schenectady County. Since July 2006, staff, children and parents in ten low-income child care centers have been provided with nutrition education, obesity prevention, and physical activity intervention. This program will be implemented in one additional child care center prior to May 31, 2009.
