Goal: Reduce obesity and increase access and education to leisure-time physical activities in Bay County residents.
The measures used can be directly impacted by access to development and recreation programs and facilities. They are: 1) percentage of persons who are obese; 2) percentage of persons who are overweight; 3) percentage of persons who are not overweight or obese; 4) percentage of person who participate in no leisure-time physical activity; and 5) access numbers to recreational areas.
Why This Indicator is Important
Participating in sport and physical recreation enhances social inclusion as well as health and well-being. The mental and physical health benefits of physical activity are well known. Participation in these activities, for example, can improve cardiovascular health, decrease stress and improve self-esteem. Participation in sport and group-based physical recreation has also been found to help facilitate social interaction, build community strength, decrease anti-social behavior and promote ethnic and cultural harmony and community involvement. These benefits extend into the economic sphere to include cost-effective health prevention, a fit and productive workforce, business growth, tourism and employment Combating obesity is a key to eliminating obesity, and the dangerous implications for health and economic future of the county.
Adult obesity- http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/prevalence-maps.html