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 physical activity recommendations- 26.8% (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 82]).  
• 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- 21.8% (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 61])
• Over 18% of adults surveyed reported not having health insurance.  (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 86]).  
• Fewer adults are receiving leisure-time physical activity- 75% in 2024 vs. 78.3% in 2021 (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 49])
• 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. In 2024, 12.9% of adults surveyed agreed or strongly agreed with this statement: 'in the past 12 months, a lack of transportation has prevented me from going someplace I wanted or needed to go in Haywood County.' (2024 WNC Healthy Impact Community Health Survey, WNC Health Network, Inc. [Item 325])

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)