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ARS Home » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #107920
Title: HEALTH STATUS OF ADULTS

Author
item HARSHA, DAVID - PENNINGTON BIOMED RES CTR
item THORNTON, ALMA - SOUTHERN UNIV A&M COLLEGE

Submitted to: Nutrition and Health Status in the Lower Mississippi Delta of AR, LA, & MS
Publication Type: Book / Chapter
Publication Acceptance Date: 9/1/1997
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: The leading causes of death among adults are cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, cancer, and diabetes with mortality rates much higher in the lower Delta region than occur nationally. Louisiana (LA) and Mississippi (MS) rank in the highest quintile of states nationally for cardiovascular disease; LA ranks near the top in cancer mortality and the other two states higher than national averages. A similar pattern is seen for mortality from diabetes. All of these causes of premature deaths among adults are potentially diet-related; cardiovascular disease and diabetes are directly responsive to dietary interventions. Death rates from automobile accidents, other accidents, and homicides are also high relative to national standards. The prevalence of obesity has been increasing over several years nationwide, and there is no reason to believe that the Delta population is different in this regard, although there are no data available to assess the magnitude of the problem in the Delta. Limited data on physical activity indicate that the proportion of the population that is sedentary is quite high, and that adults with lower educational levels tend to be more sedentary than those with higher educational attainment. Both obesity per se and lack of exercise are potentially important contributors to heart disease and to adult diabetes. The data presented outline a picture of relative health deficit in the three state and lower Delta regions. By almost all public health and chronic disease gauges, AR, LA, and MS exhibit high rates of mortality and morbidity relative to the country as a while. This in itself indicates a great need for health promotion and education programs targeting the known and suspected underlying causal factors for these conditions.