Progress Stalls In The Fight To Reduce Preventable Disease And Early Death In North Carolina

CHAPEL HILL, NC - January 23, 2008 - Fewer people are smoking in North

Carolina, but growing numbers are overweight or obese and not getting

enough physical activity. More than one in five adults (22%) smokes, a

14% decrease from the rate reported in 2002. Tobacco use among middle

school and high school youth has also dropped (40% and 20%,

respectively) from rates reported in 2002. However, two-thirds of adults

and one-third of children are overweight or obese, and one in four

adults gets no physical activity. NC Prevention Partners presented these

and other data today in its 2008 Prevention Report Card, which grades

the progress made from 2005 - 2007. The Report Card is available online

at www.ncpreventionpartners.org/2008reportcard. 



"The grades are in, and North Carolina is still missing the mark on

prevention," said Meg Molloy, DrPH, MPH, RD, Executive Director of NC

Prevention Partners. "Despite significant media attention to and public

discussion about healthier lifestyles, overall prevention grades haven't

budged in the past three years. Annual costs in North Carolina from our

top three causes of preventable illness and early death are now $26

billion, almost double the amount from 2005."



"While we're doing better in some areas, prevention is still not a high

enough priority," Dr. Molloy said. "Millions of North Carolinians remain

at increased risk of preventable heart attacks, strokes, cancers and

diabetes as well as early death. Our health will improve significantly

when we can breathe tobacco-free air, choose healthier food options

while dining out, and find more convenient opportunities for physical

activity."



2008 Prevention Grades

Tobacco: C

Nutrition: D

Physical Activity: D



Highlights from the 2008 Report Card



Overall Tobacco Grade: C



* Tobacco use has dropped 40% among middle school youth from rates

reported in 2002 (17% to 11%) and is down 20% for high school youth

(from 36% to 29%).

* N.C. has the fifth weakest cigarette tax at just $0.35/pack, one

third of the $1.11 national average. (New Jersey has the highest:

$2.58).

* Less than half (48%) of restaurants protect their customers from

secondhand smoke.

* One in three smokers is not offered help to quit smoking by

their doctor.

* Pregnant women who smoke increased by 27%.

North Carolina State Health Director Dr. Leah Devlin said, "As seen in

our decreased smoking rates, it's clear that more North Carolinians are

saying 'no' to tobacco. But there are still 1.5 million adults smoking

in North Carolina. With a higher cigarette tax and stronger laws to

protect everyone from breathing dangerous secondhand smoke, we can do

even more to reduce preventable illness and early death caused by

tobacco."



Overall Nutrition Grade: D



* Two out of three adults (63%) are overweight or obese, a 7%

increase from the rate (59%) reported in 2002. One in three children

(30%) is overweight or obese, a 10% increase since 2002 (27%).



* Rates of youth obesity in N.C. are the fifth highest in the

nation.



* One in four adults and seniors - and less than 20% of youth -

eat the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables each day.



* Four out of five (83%) restaurants do not highlight healthier

food options on their menu.



"Getting a 'D' in nutrition isn't something North Carolina should be

proud of," said Peg O'Connell, Manager of External Affairs for the

National Forum for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention and Chair of NC

Prevention Partners. "In the midst of a nationwide epidemic of obesity,

we have the fifth worst youth obesity rates in the country. And more

obesity means more heart attacks, more strokes, and more diabetes."



Overall Physical Activity Grade: D



* Less than half of high school students get the recommended

amount of physical activity (at least 60 minutes per day, on most days

of the week).



* Less than half of adults and one third of seniors get the

recommended amount of physical activity (at least 30 minutes per day, on

most days of the week).



* A quarter of North Carolinians say they get no physical activity

at all.



* More than one third of students watch at least 3 hours of TV

every school day.



Dr. Rebecca Garland is the Executive Director of the North Carolina

Board of Education. "Just like students need support to reach high

academic goals, schools need support to create more opportunities for

students to get physical activity," said Dr. Garland. "Healthy students

learn better and are more productive in the classroom."



Prevention: A Wise Investment 



On average, employers spend $18,000 per employee per year on health

related costs, including medical care, other benefits and productivity

costs. Employees who are severely overweight file twice as many workers'

compensation claims, have nearly seven times the medical claims costs,

and miss thirteen times more work days than per year than employees at

their recommended weight.*



North Carolinians Die Two Years Earlier Than the Nation



North Carolina** (75.8 yrs) National Avg.*** (77.8 yrs)



About the 2008 Prevention Report Card



The 2008 Report Card is a compilation of data published in 2005 - 2007

from sources including the North Carolina Behavioral Risk Factor

Surveillance System, the Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System, and

the Youth Tobacco Survey; a full set of references is listed in the

Report Card. Prevention grades are based on progress made against

Healthy People 2010 goals for the nation.



For more information, visit: www.ncpreventionpartners.org/reportcard.



http://www.schs.state.nc.us/SCHS/pdf/HealthProfile2007.pdf



http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/pubs/pubd/hestats/finaldeaths04/finaldeaths04.htm