Why it Matters?

Exercise is linked to positive physical, psychological, and social outcomes. Communities that create spaces for physical activity have healthier
people with decreased risks of obesity, heart disease, and other chronic conditions that increase morbidity and mortality.

Food is a basic building block of health that affects weight, blood pressure, and countless other health outcomes. Access to healthy
foods is strongly influenced by where someone lives. People in rural or underserved areas of North Carolina are particularly affected by lack of
access to stores where they can purchase ingredients for healthy meal.

Obesity continues to be a concern in North Carolina. Sugar-sweetened beverages (SSB) are the leading source of calories and added sugars in
the American diet.

The Numbers

What Does This Mean for Macon?

• 28.9% of individuals meeting current physical activity recommendations in 2021 (increase).
• Regional data analysis indicates that low income, people who are unable to work and people who live in rural areas were more likely to be obese.
• 66% of key informants selected obesity as a major problem in the community.
• This health issue is related to the HNC 2030 desired results and indicators for increase physical activity and reduce overweight and obesity.

What’s Helping?

• Free physical activities
• Mountain Wise programs
• Minority Diabetes Prevention Programs
• Double Up Food Bucks
• Worksite Wellness programs

What’s Hurting?

• Health habits
• Lack of education and value on cooking and gardening
• Fast food is easy/convenient
• Cost of healthy foods
• Lack of mental health services

Who’s Most Impacted?

• Hispanic/Latinx population
• Children, youth and adolescents
• Low income, uninsured and/or underinsured

What Else Do We Know?

• People who have obesity, compared to those with a healthy weight, are at increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions.
• Obesity and its associated health problems have a significant economic impact on the US health care system.

What Works to Do Better?

• Examples of Evidence-based Interventions
  • School-based nutrition and physical activity programs
  • Worksite obesity prevention programs
  • Community-wide physical activity campaigns

• Almost all Macon County Schools are providing free breakfast and lunch to their students. Frankling High School did not qualify for the grant.
• The Macon/Swain Produce R/X program was developed with the help of community partners and a Duke Endowment. Fifty applicants are currently receiving weekly food boxes to improve healthy eating habits. This program officially began in January 2024 and will last 26 weeks.
• The Macon Food Council was developed in late 2022 in order to study food insecurity within WNC. It was determined that increasing access to healthy foods via SNAP/EBT acceptance was the best way to begin to address food insecurity. A new farmers market for Macon County that will accept SNAP/EBT is set to begin in May 2024.