Obesity in New York City

Obesity in New York CityNiki NumamotoWhy this is significant to me

New York State

http://andyarthur.org/new-york-state/ny-census/map-median-household-income-in-ny-state.htmlNew York City5 boroughs:ManhattanBrooklynQueensStaten IslandBronx

http://wikitravel.org/upload/shared/5/5a/New_York_City_District_Map.pngObesity is not a merely a cosmetic issue

http://www.guardian.com.sg/sites/all/modules/guardian_health_tools/images/BMI-Chart.jpgOvereating is not merely cosmeticDeep rooted societal problem that has many factors i.e. economicsMore than eating, its psychologicalDo you consider overeating an eating disorder?Feast and Famine physiologyComfort foods Media, models and mankindDivision of LaborRefers to the allocation of tasks to individuals or organizations according to the skills and/or equipment those people or organizations possess.

Division of LaborIndustrial revolution introduced division of labor and solely wage economies.Specialized workers i.e. bankers, mechanics, bakers, factory workersWithin the past century have whole populations and different classes of people had open availability and access to food everyday without having to work in a field all day for it. Feast and Famine examinedHomo sapiens emerged approx. 195,000 years agoHomo sapiens have lived since then, without eating everydayOur bodies are excellent at storing energy and utilizing efficientlyProteins, carbohydrates and fats and be turned into storageFood that was eaten little meat, lots of nuts, berries, fruits and vegetablesNow in US: lots of meat, less fruits and vegetablesWith the increase of large agriculture and industrial revolution came food available at all times

Feast and FaminePortions sizes have increased since the beginning of the century i.e. soda, sandwiches etc. (expanded later)Sodium, sugar and fats have all been added to preserve and add flavorProcessing has increased to make food last indefinitelyi.e. twinkies, canned food All of these adds calories (for the most part)

http://brennamccaffreydotcom.files.wordpress.com/2012/07/realbeautyhuh.jpeg?w=500&h=565NYC statsIn the early 60s, 13% of Americans were overweight.In 2007-2008, 34% of Americans were overweight or obese58% of Adult New Yorkers are overweight or obese now (3,437,000)In black, Latino and low income communities obesity reaches 70% in some of NYCs neighborhoods Poor neighborhoods mostly in the Bronx and in Brooklyn and Harlem in Manhattan.Obesity and low incomeIn NYC, obesity is linked with poverty: the lower the income level for the neighborhood, the higher the chance for those within the area to be obese.

The rate of diabetes has risen at a higher rate among African-Americans and Latinos and is twice as likely to be found in low-income neighborhoods over othersDiabetes Mellitus Type IIBegin on the sixth floor, third room from the end, swathed in fluorescence: a 60-year-old woman was having two toes sawed off. One floor up, corner room: a middle-aged man sprawled, recuperating from a kidney transplant. Next door: nerve damage. Eighth floor, first room to the left: stroke. Two doors down: more toes being removed. Next room: a flawed heart. As always, the beds at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx were filled with a universe of afflictions. In truth, these assorted burdens were all the work of a single illness: diabetes. Room after room, floor after floor, diabetes. On any given day, hospital officials say, nearly half the patients are there for some trouble precipitated by the disease. New York Times, January 9, 2006 14Income Map

http://visualizingeconomics.com/blog/2007/09/22/new-york-city-poverty-mapDiabetes and Obesity Map

http://umicheso.files.wordpress.com/2010/07/diabetes-obesity.pngEast and Central Harlem, Bronx, BrooklynMore than 1 in 3 high school students report not exercising at least 20 minutes a day, 3 days per week. Nearly 6 in 10 watch TV at least 3 hours per day.One in 4 adults report not exercising at all. A similar proportion do not walk or bicycle at least 10 blocks to get to work or school or to run errands.More than 8 in 10 adolescents and more than 9 in 10 adults say they eat fewer than 5 servings of fruits and vegetables per day.Obesity-Hunger paradoxOne article in NY Times calls it The Bronx ParadoxMovie-PreciousPoverty:Longer hours at work/more jobsNon-nuclear familiesFood is not varied, its obtained fast and eaten fast and with more preservativesLittle or no exercise from time and money limitationsNo fields, limited outdoor accessSometimes not safe to be outside

New York City Projects

http://www4.pictures.gi.zimbio.com/Bronx+Born+Judge+Sonia+Sotomayor+Nominated+32aed62QCj1l.jpgUphill battle

NYC trans fat ban2008First city to ban trans fats in restaurantsOther cities followed suit

Mayor Bloombergs Obesity task forceMulti-agency Obesity Task forceConvened in January of 2012Comprised of commissioners from 11 city agencies and representatives from the mayors office.

http://www.business2community.com/consumer-marketing/nyc-health-department-shows-how-sugary-drinks-deteriorate-pour-on-the-pounds-017200#!Kr2Gu

The GulpIn a 2002 study by the National Alliance for Nutrition and Activity found that a 64-ounce Double Gulp Coke at 7-Eleven cost just 37 cents more (42% more money) than the 16-ounce Gulp,

However it provided an additional 450 calories (300% more calories).Calorie CountsNYC requires chain restaurants that hold NYC Department of Health andMental Hygiene (DOHMH) permits to post calorie information prominently on menu boards and menus.

Meal and Vending StandardsNYC established nutritional standards for every City agency that purchases or serves meals to clients.

i.e. schools, hospitals, nursing homes, jails and other city facilities.

http://lonelyconservative.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/school-lunch.jpgGreen CartsNYC made available 1000 green carts permits to sell raw fruits and vegetables onlyMicro loans to operatorsLocations that would have otherwise not had access to fresh fruit and veggies

Health BucksWorth $2 each, Health Bucks are developed and distributed by NYC DOHMH District Public Health Offices and can be used to purchase fresh fruits and vegetables.

Move to ImproveEngaging way to help teachers integrate physical activity into all areas of classroom academics. This initiative is funded in part by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Communities Putting Prevention to Work grant and City Council Funding.

Active Design guidelinesFor creating healthier buildings, streets, and urban spaces.

Focus is on pedestrians

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6015/5933405671_e65bb2a680_b.jpgUrban CyclingNYC has re-imagined the urban streetscape to promote safe bicycling for recreation and commuting, The DOT has completed the City's ambitious goal of building 250 bike-lane miles in all five boroughs in just three years.

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