Two factors — tobacco use and obesity — stand as major barriers to state and national efforts to create healthy communities and to provide medical care for the population.
Roderick L. Bremby, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, talked about those risky behaviors and other health concerns on Saturday during a Healthy Community Workshop at the Granada Theatre. The workshop was sponsored by the Boertman Lecture Fund in the Department of Social Sciences at Emporia State University.
“There is a way Emporia can become the healthiest city in the state,” Bremby said. “… People will be beating down the doors to get to Emporia to see how to make it happen.”
Intervention and prevention will be vital for making changes that not only can result in a healthier community, but can dramatically reduce the cost of health care.
Tobacco-related health issues cost about $927 million per year in Kansas, he said; obesity, from physical inactivity and poor eating habits, generates another $657 million in health costs annually for the state.
“We have created an environment that has eliminated the need to move,” Bremby said, showing slides of the evolution from two-wheeled, rotary-blade push lawn mowers to power lawn mowers to mowers with grass-catchers and on to riding mowers.
Children are not getting enough physical activity, either, and are eating diets out of balance with their nutritional needs — just as their parents and other adults are doing.
“Here’s where we’re really not doing good — vegetables,” Bremby said. “Four percent get enough servings” per day. The recommended daily need is 5 servings of fruits or vegetables.
Too much time is spent playing computer and electronic games and watching television, and not enough time is spent doing simple exercises, like walking.
“It’s impossible to get 10,000 steps a day after working eight hours,” Bremby said. An alternative would be to take 10-minute walks during breaks, lunch hours and after work.
He flashed a picture on the screen of a sidewalk spanning in front of one house, and lush lawns surrounding the small track of concrete.
City planners will need to be part of the intervention.
“You want to walk, but the environment is not conducive to exercising,” Bremby said.
He identified health insurance and care for all segments of the public as a pressing need that government may not be able to provide because of the increasing population and the increasing number of chronic health conditions.
“Even if we get it right on the insurance side … we’re not going to be able to pay for it,” Bremby said. “Sometimes the truth hurts.”
Intervention can significantly reduce many of the costly health problems that plague the treatment system, and prevention would be even better because it could eliminate many health problems.
“The reason I talk so much about the future is because I expect to spend the rest of my life there,” Bremby said.
Life expectancy rates for people with weight issues are significantly lower than normal-weight individuals, and diseases related to nutrition, like diabetes, can play a role, in addition to the heart and circulatory problems that often accompany bad eating habits.
Average life expectancy for men is estimated to be 74.4 years; for overweight men, 71.1 years; for obese men, 67.3 years.
For women, the average is 79.8 years; for overweight women, 76.5 years; for obese women, 72.7 years.
He showed the audience of about 40 people color-coded maps of the United States that showed obesity rates from each state for several previous years.
Mississippi, he said, in 2003 was the first state to hit a 25 percent population of obese adults.
By 2007, 30 percent of all adults were identified as obese in three states — Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee.
“Guess what the health care costs are for that,” Bremby said.
And, in Kansas, 20 to 24 percent of the population reportedly is obese.
“Fifty-four percent of high school students do not meet recommended activity levels,” Bremby said.
About 25 percent of the 10 to 14 age group meets recommended activity levels, and 23 percent of the adults get enough activity.
“It’s not about looking good,” Bremby said; “it’s about living.”
Bremby said that small groups such as the one on Saturday could play an essential role in making Emporia a healthy, sustainable community.
Changes need to be made, and can be made, in eating and exercise habits in schools, homes, churches — think church dinners and luncheons, he said — and even in restaurants.
He talked about the difference between advertising dollars spent to promote candy, snacks, and fast food products. In the first six months of 2008, he said, manufacturers spent $3.17 billion in advertising.
In contrast, the U.S. government’s budget for advertising nutrition was about one-fifth of the money spent advertising a single product, Altoids.
Manufacturers understand that advertising is a primary way to change people’s behavior and coax consumers to buy their products. Bremby thinks the same thinking could be applied to nutrition and an array of health-related ideas.
“Why can’t we change behavior to living a more healthy life?” he asked. “… What’s the point in living another nine years if you’re in poor health?”
beth2306 (anonymous) says...
I would really like a no smoking ban put into action so that I could go into a restaurant and be able to breathe clean air.
April 6, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
MrCmonkeeDo (anonymous) says...
Well...where does one begin? Oh, this little snippet of what-the-heck-ever made MrC laugh:
“There is a way Emporia can become the healthiest city in the state,” Bremby said. “… People will be beating down the doors to get to Emporia to see how to make it happen.”
Firstly, who are these peeps that think Emporia CAN become the healthiest city in the state? We seem to be surrounded by THEM. Like viruses, THEY wait for our defenses to weaken. Then subliminally attack our sensibilities with rhetorical discourses of agendized crap.
It's phase one of lumpy gravy, folks!
Phase two is when THEY attempt to force us to become the healthiest city in the state. Oh, wait...
Maybe phase two is really phase one; an' phase one is just some sort of sick pre-phase thingy. Or maybe phase one is really phase two? Who knows? What's it matter? That which we call crap, by any other name would smell as bad.
Secondly, Do we really want peeps commin' round what'll beat down our doors to see how to make IT happen? That's just frightening!
Thirdly, did anybody else notice that once again THEY give us (even though we never asked) numbers in the guise of dollars spent about the detriments of tobacco use, but nothing to back it up? Stranger still, even though the headline clearly states:
"Tobacco use, obesity top roadblocks to healthy communities"
There is no mention of tobacco usage in the article? Other than the dollars spent of course.
Timing is everything.
VOTE NO!
April 6, 2009 at 11:31 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
driveonby (anonymous) says...
Bremby works VERY closely with insurance companies amd drug companies. Sometimes it's hard to tell just WHO Representatives are representing!
April 7, 2009 at 6:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Deepthoughts (anonymous) says...
First smoking, now obesity.
Hmmm, I'm thinking the people who are pushing the smoking ban (for our health of course!) won't be pushing the obesity issue. Looks like they enjoy eating out and all that unhealthy food a little too much. Makes for some interesting hypocrisy though.
April 7, 2009 at 7:52 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
Exactly how much does Bremby weigh, is he overwieght for his height, build, bone mass, etc., is he at the ideal prescribed weight as prescribed by the official health charts ?
Is he totally and completely healthy ?
How is a person that is disabled and can hardley walk, with out excruciating pain and the aid of a walker, cane or crutches walk at least 10,000 steps a day or walk at all if unable to do so ?
I hate to say it, but when this whole ban thing started, I TOLD YOU SO ! Don't be suprised if some time in the near future you see an attempt to ban obesity, implimentation of forced walking or marching, forced implementation of eating certain foods, whether you can afford them or not ! Health and ban enforcers beating down your doors to see if you are or are not doing what the " Tyrants " have ordered you to be doing or have done !
Whether you see it or believe it or not, history is in the processes of repeating itself ! There was a certain person in our not so long ago history, who thought he could create the perfect healthy, superior race of people who would rule the world !
People, wake up, the time and day of " TYRANTS " and " TYRANNY " are close at hand, again or already upon us !
It would seem that the common sense and rationale that there are more things in the world that can cause illnesses, desease or an unhealthy person than can possibly be banned or eradicated.
Common sense, or at least any form of rational common sense and " live and let live " tollerance have gone completely by the wayside !
April 7, 2009 at 8:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
seriouslyfolks (anonymous) says...
Posted by beth2306 (anonymous) on April 6, 2009 at 10:14 p.m. (Suggest removal)
"I would really like a no smoking ban put into action so that I could go into a restaurant and be able to breathe clean air."
Um? UM? Most restaurants are already nonsmoking. You want to go to a restaurant without smoke in the air, go to a restaurant wihtout smoke in the air.
I seriously think the healthy function of our bodies is useless without healthy functioning brains. I don't want outsiders coming here to admire how healthy we are just to realize we aren't that bright.
April 7, 2009 at 8:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Beth2306,
People like you really scare the hell out of me. There are seven restaurants in Emporia that allow smoking, the rest do not. If you accidentally walk into a random restaurant in Emporia, statistically it will be non-smoking.
I'm going to take a stab in the dark, and say you are 38 years old, drive an Expedition, have 3 kids that are all heavily involved in soccer, and you live in Becker.
April 7, 2009 at 10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Is it just me, or did several people in the picture, (including Brembry), look a little obese? There were some real heavy hitters in attendance.
Steve
April 7, 2009 at 10:01 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
Hey Steve, what do you think the next ban is going to be?
Saturated fats?
Energy drinks (WAY too much sugar)?
non-diet sodas?
Salt?
April 7, 2009 at 10:17 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Weltha (anonymous) says...
Matt, I chose E all of the above. lol
April 7, 2009 at 10:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Steve_Corbin (anonymous) says...
Whatever it will be , Johnson & Johnson will have a pill for it.
April 7, 2009 at 10:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wyse_guy (anonymous) says...
We could save alot in healthcare if we stopped paying for illegals and people just to lazy to work.Just the other day a person fell flat on their face from being overly intoxicated trying to walk home.That incident involved an ambulance, emergency room visit. At whos cost? The taxpayers. Oh and who paid for the alcohol? Once again us taxpayers. Interestingly enough the person wasnt ticketed for being drunk in public.
It cracks me up all these obese people telling other people to shape up and be healthy. Maybe they need to look in a mirror before saying such things.
April 7, 2009 at 11:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
nutsaboutools (anonymous) says...
Half the reason we are not eating the "right" foods is that it is cheaper. It's costs less to buy fast food and "junk food" compared to fruits and vegetables. People don't want to stop or slow down to sit at a dinner table anymore (they "don't have time") to eat a nutritious meal together. They also "don't have time" to take a walk together or visit with neighbors.
April 7, 2009 at 12:01 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
allintogether (anonymous) says...
HA! Good one Steve! More money in the medicine. Lets start a campaign that would require treadmills for all public buildings and buildings the public can access. That way Emporia could be the healthiest city in the state and those people can commence beating our doors down. Only after a door beating down tax is approved and a minimum use penalty for the treadmills is instituted. Then and only then will we be able to measure the deleterious effect on ankle, knee and hip joints that treadmill workouts entail. We will then ban treadmills and penalize businesses...oh now there I've gone cross eyed.
Sorry folks. Just trying to get my mind around how endless regulation, legislation and other forms of government intervention does anything but turn something that should be simple into a hellishly complex, alienating, forced, divisive, grant funded steaming pile of presumptuous advocacy.
I voted today. I didn't get to vote on the ban. I wanted to vote NO. No matter what your position on the ban is, go vote! It took me less than 3 minutes. The polling place I went to was very efficient and the poll workers were friendly and helpful. Its your right and if you don't exercise it then I don't want to hear one word of complaint about how things are. If you voted, I salute you. No matter how you voted.
April 7, 2009 at 12:04 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
If the city wants to pass a law, they should take note of Kennesaw, Georgia. In 1982, they passed a law requiring every head of household to own and maintain a firearm (unless you are a felon or conscientious objector).
In 1982, they had a population of a little over 3,000, and now they are bigger than Emporia. They also have one of the lowest crime rates in the United States. After they passed the law, their home burglary rate dropped 89%. Sounds like a pretty reasonable law to me. Gonna have to write the City Commission on this one!
Matt
P.S.-- I can't believe I spelled conscientious right!
April 7, 2009 at 12:34 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
josiesbar (anonymous) says...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kennesaw...
Here's the wikipedia article about it.
April 7, 2009 at 12:35 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
allintogether (anonymous) says...
I will vote YES on Matt's firearm proliferation law. I am a CCH license holder and I turn around and walk away from private businesses that don't allow concealed handguns whether I am carrying or not. That sign that tells me they don't allow CCH on their premises is a scarlet letter for me. I will never understand why anyone wouldn't want law abiding, licensed, proficient gun owners in their business. I will always abide by the sign as it is the proprietor's right and Kansas law, but all it says to me is they are content to be a soft target for criminals that don't give a flip about the sign or the law.
I exercise my rights. If I don't, they get soft and out of shape and eventually get corrupted by grant funded crusaders.
Vote Today!
April 7, 2009 at 1:03 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
methusla (anonymous) says...
josiesbar; Matt, my money is on banning smoking outdoors, as the next ban on the agenda !
April 7, 2009 at 2:56 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
77flint (anonymous) says...
You should really stop quoting Wikipedia, it not helping your cause. Anyone can post on their pages. I am surprised you didn't know that or did you??
April 8, 2009 at 9:43 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )