The "Story Behind the Indicator" helps us understand why the data on overweight & obesity 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 are work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Grant funding to Haywood County HHSA administered by NC State University provides free Diabetes Prevention Program classes with incentives.  
• Double Up Food Bucks provides bonus dollars to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program recipients at Haywood's Historic Farmer's Market.  
• More adults are meeting fruit and vegetable recommendations- 5.1% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• More adults are meeting physical activity recommendations- 22.2% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Physical activity is supported by free use of school tracks and playgrounds.  They are available after school hours when no other activities are scheduled. 

What's Hurting? These are the negative forces are work in our community and beyond that influence this issue in our community.

• Challenges accessing affordable foods: ‘Foods found at convenience stores and ‘dollar’’ stores in less populated geographic areas tend to be highly processed high in sodium & sugar, etc.’    -Community Leader (Online Key Informant Survey-WNCHN, 2021) 
• Typical day is extremely stressful- 12% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Loss of health insurance during pandemic- 12.1% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Increase in diabetes- 18.6% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Fewer individuals are receiving leisure-time physical activity- 21.7% (WNC Health Network, 2021)
• Transportation is a barrier for many residents.  While public transportation exists and is making great strides, it is still difficult for some residents to access. 

Partners With a Role in Helping Our Community Do Better on This Issue:

The following actions have been identified by our Wellness Action Group and community members as ideas for what can work for our community to make a difference on overweight and obesity.

Actions and Approaches Identified by Our Partners These are actions and approaches that our partners think can make a difference on overweight and obesity.

• 5-2-1-Almost None health messaging
• Four-week walking challenge
• Access to professional counseling

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 overweight and obesity.

• Steps to Health: pre-k, kindergarten, 3rd grade, 4th grade
  • Color Me Healthy
• Cook Smart, Eat Smart
• Med Instead of Meds
• Canton Library- emphasis on community gardening
• Food Policy Council- supported by Empowering Mountain Food Systems

Evidence-Based Strategies These are actions and approaches that have been shown to make a difference on overweight and obesity.

Process for Selecting Priority Strategies

Haywood County used a process planning tool refered to as the "Getting to Strategies: Process Plan" designed to move from health priorities to Community Health Improvement Plan strategies. This tool assisted in facilitation when discussing priorites and strategies with work groups. Seven questions were presented to identify: Our ideal vision of Haywood County; What in our community would require change to accomplish our vision; What are the most important measures to reflect positive change; Who plays a role in creating change; What past and current strategies work to make positive change; and What we propose to do this Community Health Imporvement Plan cycle (questions below). Once all of our work groups, partners, and community members in attendance agreed on proposed strategies (keeping in mind feasibility, sustainability, level of impact in regard to current resources and capacity) the group voted for their top three obesity strategies.

• Questions:
  • What are the quality-of-life conditions we want for the people who live in our community?
  • How can we measure these conditions?
  • What would these conditions look like if we could see them?
  • How are we doing on the most important of these measures?
  • Who are the partners who have a role to play in doing better?
  • What works to do better?
  • What do we propose to do?

We are keeping an eye on overweight and obesity as a way of telling how we are doing as a community in addressing obesity and build a community where 'Haywood residents live well and live long by promoting physical activity, healthy eating, and quality healthcare.' We have also identified other data that is not currently available, but that we would like to develop to help us monitor progress on this result:

• Child obesity data (more current)
• Activity limitations (prevalence and reasons)