Percent of Adults at a Healthy Weight
Current Value
28%
Definition
Story Behind the Indicator
The "Story Behind the Curve" helps us understand why the data on healthy weight is the way that it is in our community. When we understand the root causes of our community problems, we have a better chance of finding the right solutions, together.
What's Helping?
These are the positive forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.
- Maintaining physical activity in the school systems through Jackson County Public Schools Wellness Policy that puts guidelines around removing physical activity as punishment
- Jackson County Public Schools Wellness Policy with guidelines for food available during the school day and school celebrations
- Worksite Wellness and community-wide wellness programs that offer incentives to employees and community members
- Health insurance
- The expansion of the Double Up Food Bucks Program
- WIC Program nutritional education and support
- Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department
- Diabetes Nutrition Education at JCDPH
- Harris Regional Lactation Consultants
- Outdoor hiking and trail systems, paved walking trails, and the Cullowhee Greenway
- Strong collaboration and partnership between agencies
What's Hurting?
These are the negative forces at work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.
- Food insecurity
- Food deserts
- Poverty
- Time management
- Culture
- Lack of education
- Lack of nutritional education
- Fast food restaurant availability
- Lack of physical activity and walkability
- Grocery store quality
- Inflation causing higher food prices
Partners with a Role to Play
Partners in our Community Health Improvement Process:
- Area Agency on Aging
- Jackson County Department of Public Health
- Jackson County Department on Aging
- Jackson County Cooperative Extension
- Jackson County Public Schools
- Jackson County Parks and Recreation
- Jackson County Public Library
- Harris Paramedicine & EMS
- Harris Regional Hospital
- HIGHTS
- Great Smokies Health Foundation
- Nurse-Family Partnership
- Safe Kids Jackson County
- Western Carolina University
- WNC Healthy Impact
Partners with a Role in Helping Our Community Do Better on This Issue:
- Blue Ridge Health
- Mountain Projects
- Vecinos Farmworker Health Program
- MANNA Food Bank
- Jackson County Farmer's Market
- The Whee Market
- The Town of Sylva
- Local grocery stores
- Jackson Count Transit
- Southwestern Planning Commission
- Cullowhee Community Garden
- Southwestern Child Development
- WRGC
- Active retirees
- County Manager Don Adams
- Sue Evans
- Department of Social Services
- Local churches
- Dogwood Trust
- WNC Community Foundation
- Southwestern Community College
- Pediatricians
- Medical Professionals
- County Commissioners
- Landscape businesses
What Works to Do Better (Population)?
The following actions have been identified by our Healthy for Life Action Team and community members and stakeholders as ideas for what can work for our community to make a difference on Healthy Living.
Actions and Approaches Identified by Our Partners
These are actions and approaches that our partners think can make a difference on Healthy Living.
- Funding
- Engagement (individuals and agencies)
- Collaboration and info sharing
- Creativity
- Communication
- Transportation
- Physical activity school based programs like Safe Routes to School
- Evidence based programs like Tai Chi
- Policy change
- Education to people of all ages
- Media campaigns
- Worksite Wellness
- Summer feeding program
- Accessibility of healthy choices
- Outdoor activities
What is Currently Working in Our Community
These are actions and approaches that are currently in place in our community to make a difference on Healthy Living
- School Nutrition guidelines
- Double Up Food Bucks
- Jackson County Parks & Recreation Department
- WIC Program
- Healthy Carolinians Partnership
- Cullowhee Community Garden
- Jackson County Farmer's Market
- Private gyms
- School recess and physical activity
- Wellness programs
Evidence-Based Strategies
These are actions and approaches that have been shown to make a difference on Healthy Living
Name of Strategy Reviewed | Level of Intervention |
Diabetes Prevention Program |
Individual and Interpersonal |
Be Active Kids | Individual |
Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infant, Children (WIC) | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Policy |
Active Recess | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
Activity Programs for Older Adults | Individual, Interpersonal, Community |
Breastfeeding promotion programs | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
Fruit & Vegetable Incentive Programs | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
Mixed-Use Development | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Policy |
Multi-component obesity prevention interventions | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
Places for Physical Activity | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
School fruit and vegetable gardens | Individual, Interpersonal, Community, Organizational |
School Nutrition Standards | Individual, Interperonal, Community, Organizational, Policy |
What Community Members Most Affected Say
- The overwhelming response for any issue in our county is meeting community members where they are. Transportation is very challenging in our rural county. Providing safe places to be active in each community is crucial, and a need our county government is working on. Additionally, social determinants of health play a large role in whether or not someone has the means to prepare healthy meals and be physically active. Inflation with high gas and food prices have had a negative impact on our community.
Process for Selecting Priority Strategies
Three criterion were considered when determining the strategies for this priority. They are:
- Criteria1- How important or relevant is this issue?
- size & severity of the problem
- urgency to solve the problem
- focus on equity
- linked to other important issues
- Criteria 2- What will we get out of addressing this issue or how impactful is it?
- availability of solutions/ proven strategies
- builds on or enhances current work
- Significant consequences of not addressing issue now
- Criteria 3 – Can we adequately address this issue?
- Availability of resources (staff, community partners, time, money, equipment) to address the issue
- Political capacity/will
- Community/social acceptability
- Appropriate socio-culturally
- Ethical
- Can identify short-term, easy wins