An enormous public health concern, around 40% of adults and 17% of children are overweight or obese in the United States. Among the states with the highest rates of obesity, 33.1% of adults in Florida are overweight or obese. Adult obesity rates are 35.3% higher in the Lakeland-Winter Haven metro area compared to the rest of Florida.
In this piece, we will examine the obesity epidemic in Lakeland-Winter Haven. There will be an examination of the problem’s origins, solutions, and community impact.
The American Obesity Crisis
Excessive fat storage is the hallmark of obesity. The definition is a BMI of 30 or above. A person’s body mass index (BMI) is a ratio of their weight to their height.
Several health concerns have been associated with obesity, such as:
- Certain types of cancer
- Arthritis
- Sleep apnea
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Type 2 diabetes
One of the leading causes of death at a young age is obesity.
Obesity in Florida
The adult obesity rate in Florida ranks 12th nationally. The obesity rate in the state has been rising over the past few years and is currently higher than the national average.
Florida has a high obesity rate due to several factors, such as:
- A high poverty rate
- A lack of access to healthy foods
- A sedentary lifestyle
Read More: Discover the 5 Safest Neighborhoods in Jacksonville, Florida
Reasons For Obesity in Lakeland-Winter Haven
In the heart of Florida is the Lakeland-Winter Haven metropolitan region. Some 700,000 people call it home. Several factors contribute to the high obesity rate in the metro area, including:
- Problems with obtaining nutritious food due to the abundance of fast food joints and convenience stores in the metropolitan area. The cost and availability of healthy food options can be a bit of a problem.
- Anxiety: Anxiety might cause you to eat poorly and put on weight. Stress is more common among Lakeland-Winter Haven inhabitants compared to the rest of Florida. This is because of the high percentages of unemployment and poverty in the area.
- Heredity: Some persons have a higher risk of being overweight due to their genes.
- Living a sedentary lifestyle: Compared to the rest of Florida, people living in Lakeland-Winter Haven are less inclined to exercise. The hot and humid weather is a contributing factor.
- One of the main contributors to the epidemic of obesity is low income. Working poor people are more likely to have jobs that require them to sit for long periods and to reside in neighborhoods where nutritious food options are scarce.
What Can Be Done To Counter It?
- Reducing stress: Yoga and meditation sessions are only two of the stress management programs offered in Lakeland.
- Lakeland has constructed numerous new parks and recreation centers in an effort to encourage physical exercise. There are a lot of walking and bike groups and other initiatives throughout the city that encourage people to be physically active.
- Fighting Poverty: Lakeland’s municipal government is implementing initiatives to alleviate poverty, such as job training and educational programs. Also, the city is making an effort to entice companies to set up shop there.
- The opening of multiple new grocery stores in Lakeland has increased availability to reasonably priced, nutritious food.
Final Words
There is a significant obesity epidemic in the US, and Florida is no exception. The percentage of adults classified as obese is highest in the state in the metropolitan area encompassing Lakeland and Winter Haven. Some of the factors that contribute to the high prevalence of obesity in Lakeland-Winter Haven are low incomes, limited access to healthy food options, and insufficient physical exercise. The Lakeland-Winter Haven area has an unhealthy obesity epidemic. While many are pitching in, there is still a long way to go.
in Florida cities by taking a holistic strategy that involves addressing the causes that lead to the disease and offering services to assist individuals make healthy choices.