Healthy Durham

"Overweight and obesity are associated with multiple long-term, costly, and serious conditions including heart

disease, cancer and diabetes. From 2001-2006 in Durham County, the percentage of overweight or obese
adults remained relatively stable—ranging from 57- 59%. In 2008, however, the percentage of Durham County adults who are overweight or obese increased to 71%. Populations most at risk for overweight or obesity are males, minorities, people older than 45 years old, and those with less than a high school education.6 The percentage of Durham County children served by the WIC nutritional program who are overweight (14.7%) and obese (19.6%) is much higher than the statewide rates, but has been steadily decreasing the last three years."