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
2014 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 27th healthiest county in
the nation for children, according to a June 2014
ranking by U.S. News and World Report.
•
As of July 2014, nearly 80,000 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 2008 and 2010, about 5,000 cases of cancer were
diagnosed annually in the county. And in 2011, cancer
caused more than 1,700 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 2013 County Health
Profile, 22% of residents are considered obese and 54% are
overweight. 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.
