Healthy eating and regular physical activity have been shown to reduce the risk of a number of chronic
diseases, such as

hypertension, cardiovascular disease and diabetes. Physical activity has also been proven to have other benefits, including controlling your weight, strengthening bones, lifting your mood, and more.
The 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans recommend children get up to 60 minutes of activity a day. For substantial benefits, adults are recommended to do at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity a week, and muscle-strengthening activities 2 days a week. Physical inactivity has a direct relationship with household income and race.
- Only 26% of adults and 34% of youth in Kent County report eating healthy balanced meals.
- Men are less likely to meet recommended nutrition guidelines than women (19% vs. 32%)
- 19,200 Kent County residents live in a food desert, meaning they do not have access to a grocery store with fresh produce.
- 20% of adults are not physically active.
- Physical inactivity is especially prevalent in adults with lower income levels (30% in those with household incomes of less than $20,000 per year).
- Hispanics are most likely to be physically inactive, with reporting no leisure time physical activity.
- 45% of youth report being physically inactive (less than 60 minutes of exercise during the last 7 days)
- Youth in Kent County are much more likely to eat healthy balanced meals and be physically active as compared with Michigan youth. They are also less likely to be obese.
Sources: Kent County 2011 Community Health Needs Assessment, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) (2008), Kent County Behavioral Risk Factor Survey (BRFS) Report (2014), Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPhY) (2012).
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