A study by the Clark County Combined Health District revealed that over 40 percent of adults in the county are obese. The Community Health Foundation is actively working to encourage residents to live a healthier lifestyle.
Clark County’s 40 percent obesity rate is significantly higher than the state average of 29 percent and the national average of 35 percent, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Joy Rogers of the Community Health Foundation, says the growing number of fast food restaurants is part of several problems causing the waistlines in Clark County to expand.
"Part of it has to do with the level of poverty in our community. I think statistics show that the more a person lives in poverty the fewer food options they have and possibly the poorer choices they sometimes make with regards to nutritional offerings. We also probably have some areas of our community that have some food deserts meaning that not as much healthy food is available to them," Rogers said.
Rogers says that the Community Health Foundation has started to put together programs on eating well and portion control and the importance of being physically active. They also offer nutritional information for many of the restaurants in the Springfield area, so consumers can make healthy choices.