22
THE HEALTH OF COUNTY RESIDENTS
PLANNING ISSUE
Diabetes, heart disease, and
other health concerns related
to fitness and weight have
increased over the past
decade, and attention is
increasingly turning to ways
the built environment can be
designed to foster better
fitness and overall welfare.
Health Data and Health
Concerns
Health Care Facilities
Aging
Food Distribution and Access
What’s New
•
A joint project from the Robert Wood Johnson
Foundation and the University of Wisconsin’s
Population Health Institute,
County Health Rankings
& Roadmaps
, ranked Montgomery County fifth in
the state for health outcomes and second for health
factors. Health outcomes represent how healthy a
county is, while health factors represent what
influences the health of the county. For more
detailed information on Montgomery County’s
scores, check out
.
•
Montgomery County is the 35th healthiest county in
the nation for children, according to a June, 2013
ranking by U.S. News and World Report.
•
As of December 2012, more than 70,000 county
residents—both children and adults, were eligible
for Medical Assistance (MA) or Medicaid through
the state. This program provides medical and dental
services to those who are eligible, typically those
with low incomes or resources.
•
The Food Trust, located in Philadelphia, developed
the Healthy Corner Store Initiative to increase the
availability of healthy foods in corner stores and to
educate young people about healthy snacking.
Adelita’s Mexican Market, in Norristown, is a part
of this program. Weekly cooking demonstrations
teach healthy habits to neighborhood participants.
•
Many municipalities have started or sponsor
programs to encourage their residents to get healthy
and stay that way. Hatfield Borough, for example,
offers group walks through the borough to promote
fitness and safety. The Lower Merion Library
System recently sponsored a community health fair;
many municipalities (including Lower Providence,
Towamencin, and Plymouth Townships, among
others) offer sports leagues and fitness classes for
residents of all ages.
Health Data and Health Concerns
The health of the county’s residents is a major concern as
rates of both chronic diseases and contributing factors like
obesity are on the rise. Chronic diseases are those which are
persistent and are long-lasting in their effects—this includes
conditions such as arthritis, asthma, cancer, or HIV/AIDS.
Chronic disease has replaced infectious disease as the
nation’s main public health threat; it has significant impacts
on the county as well. Most chronic diseases affect people
of all ages, races, and ethnicities, but some tend to be more
prevalent among lower income and minority populations.
Chronic heart disease is among the leading causes of death in
Montgomery County (nearly 25% of all deaths annually).
Between 2007 and 2009, more than 5,000 cases of cancer
were diagnosed annually in the county. And in 2010, cancer
caused more than 1,600 deaths county-wide. Diabetes is
another pressing concern. As of 2008, 7% of county
residents had been, at some point in their lives, given the
diagnosis of diabetes.
Our increasing waistlines are also a pressing issue. Many
factors contribute to this rise, including growing portion
sizes, nutrition, social and family dynamics, and a lack of
exercise. Many county residents are considered to be
overweight, and according to the state’s 2012 County Health
Profile, 23% of residents are considered obese. Obesity is
linked to an increased incidence of a number of serious
health concerns, including cancer, heart disease and heart
attacks, and type II diabetes.
