Thursday, Jul. 03, 2008

Dirty shame -- Valley counties failing to create healthy areas

Organization says seven Valley counties are among the 10 unhealthiest in the state.

By BARBARA ANDERSON
The Fresno Bee

People in the San Joaquin Valley are more likely than others in the state to live in unhealthy neighborhoods, and the state needs to make those communities a health priority, according to a report.

Among the 10 counties with the dirtiest air and least access to grocery stores and safe playgrounds, seven are in the Valley, according to the report released Tuesday by the Having Our Say Coalition, a statewide group working for health care reform.

They are Merced, Tulare, Kings, Fresno, San Joaquin, Madera and Kern counties.

Health is tied to where a person lives, said Martin Martinez, policy director for the California Pan-Ethnic Health Network, and a lead organization for the Having Our Say Coalition. Neighborhoods with sidewalks help, he said, and so does living near a grocery store and a park.

But for too many Valley residents, those things are lacking, he said.

The result: People in the Valley are becoming obese, Martinez said Tuesday during a news conference.

"We are on the verge of a massive diabetes and obesity epidemic in the Valley," he said.

Obesity leads to more chronic illnesses, including arthritis and digestive problems as well as diabetes, heart disease, cancer and high blood pressure, said Helen Jones, a Fresno doctor of internal medicine. According to the 2005 California Health Interview Survey, 65 percent of Valley adults are overweight or obese.

Jones said she advises patients to exercise and eat healthful foods. But without sidewalks and accessible grocery stores, her patients' lifestyles remain the same.

"I'll do my part, but I need some help," she said.

The state should invest in communities that lack parks, playgrounds, sidewalks and grocery stores, Martinez said. Public health officials also need to do their part by becoming involved in the design of communities that promote health by incorporating adequate open space and walk-friendly neighborhoods.

Two bills pending in the legislature would provide resources to help communities improve their health status, he said. Assembly Bill 211, introduced by Dave Jones, D-Sacramento, promotes the involvement of public-health officers in land-use decisions.

AB 1472, introduced by Mark Leno, D-San Francisco, would provide assistance to public-health agencies and community organizations to evaluate land-use planning decisions.

Martinez said the Having Our Say report -- "The Path to Healthy Communities: Mapping California's Priorities" -- shows that legislators should give priority to Valley cities.

"The state is dropping the ball for everybody, but the conditions are worse here," he said.

To rank the health status of communities, researchers looked at demographics -- race and ethnicity, country of origin and languages spoken. They also compiled information on income, health conditions, weight, fitness levels, insurance status, and open space in communities.

The highest scores were given to communities with high poverty, large minority populations, low access to health insurance, a high prevalence of diseases, low levels of fitness and a lack of green space.

Ellen Wu, co-author of the report and executive director of the Pan-Ethnic network, said she recognizes the state is in a budget crisis, but she said that makes concentrating on the prevention of disease in communities with the greatest health needs all the more important.