This article was last updated on Dec. 30, 2020.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that two-thirds of American adults External Site are either overweight or obese. The problem is not limited to adults, as one-third of American children and teenagers are clinically overweight or obese.
Iowa and South Dakota are not immune. In 1988, 14 percent of adults in Iowa and South Dakota were obese. In 2014, the rate grew to 30.9 percent in Iowa and 29.8 percent in South Dakota.
Bar chart showing the obesity trends among adults in Iowa and South Dakota. The orange bar indicates 1988 where 14 percent of adults in Iowa and South Dakota were obese. The blue bar indicates 2014 where 30.9 percent of Iowans were obese, while 29.8 percent were obese in South Dakota.
What’s more, rising rates of obesity contribute to a wide range of chronic diseases. Experts suggest there are more than 50 diseases linked to obesity, including several cancers, diabetes, heart conditions, arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and depression.
Reducing obesity starts in the environment where we live, work and play
The answer to reducing obesity is not simple. Epidemiologists point some to the culture and environment we have created. For example, portion sizes in restaurants have grown by four times the recommended amount. Communities have become more focused on making it easier for cars than pedestrians, walkers, runners and bikers. Schools have reduced recess time and serve processed foods for lunch. Students are riding the bus to school rather than walking. Workplaces have become more sedentary due to increases in technology. Even our homes are jam-packed with conveniences that don’t require as much manual labor as in the past — garage door openers, remote controls for TV, etc.
One thing is for certain: The environments in which we live, work and play are central to the problem, and the solution. That’s why, at Wellmark, we are working at the community level to help curb obesity and much more through the Healthy Hometown SM Powered by Wellmark program Opens New Window.
How the Healthy Hometown program works
There is no place like your hometown. But, did you know that your hometown could also impact your health? The Healthy Hometown Powered by Wellmark program is a way to make your hometown a healthier place to live, work and play. Healthy Hometown aims to make the healthy choice, the easy choice, using evidence-based interventions and tools.
Every community has different health priorities, as well as people and budgets to put plans into action. Healthy Hometown can be customized easily to meet your community’s needs.
Learn more about Healthy Hometown
To help you decide if the Healthy Hometown program is right for your community, check out these articles:
- What is healthy hometown?
- Eating well: It's not a diet. It's a lifestyle.
- Moving more and feeling better
- Feel better by connecting to your hometown
You can also learn more about Healthy Hometown online Opens New Window or email HealthyHometown@Wellmark.com Send Email.
