In a health study of more than 3,000 U.S. counties, Madison County was ranked 79th out of Indiana’s 92. Next door, Delaware County was ranked 81st. Just to the west, however, Hamilton County had the best health in the state. Geographically, there is little difference between Hamilton and Madison. So what could explain such a huge difference in something as important as health? In a word, money.
Local health officials cited the usual culprits for unhealthy bodies: too many people smoke, eat high-calorie fatty foods and then try to work it off by operating the TV remote.
One official said he uses the running lane at Shadyside Park but rarely sees many people doing the same. Most people seem to take Mark Twain’s view of working out. He said when he felt the urge to exercise, he’d lie down until it went away.
On a good note, however, Madison County ranked 20th in terms of clinical care. When people do get sick, there are great facilities to help them. But the preventive care that people need to engage in is missing, making it difficult for even the finest care units to reverse years of bodily abuse.
Let’s return to that word money. Hamilton County is one of the richest in Indiana. Residents earn top wages, there are good schools and the populace is educated. People not only know what it takes to have a healthy body, but have the means to live a lifestyle that reflects good health. Steve Ford, of the Madison County Health Department, said the Carmel running trails are usually filled on weekend mornings. Also, Saint John’s Health System medical officer Gary Brazel said healthy food is more expensive. It’s easier to load up on noodles and canned foods than pricey fruits and vegetables.
With the poverty rate higher in Madison County than Hamilton County, some folks are worried about just having a meal, not wondering whether it is good for them. It becomes a generational problem as bad habits are passed on. Even school lunches are not always nutritious. What kids are taught in health class about the dangers of smoking, drinking and eating poorly fall to the wayside when they see their families and friends indulging.
There is an irony here, too, in that even people in poverty still find money to buy cigarettes and booze. It’s because those two substances are habit-forming and purchasing them takes away money for healthy choices.
It’s also true that people in high-poverty areas lack health insurance and postpone all doctor visits because of the cost. Tests for cancers and heart conditions are not done because people can’t pay for them. Then, when they do arrive at the hospital emergency room, it’s often too late.
The health of a community is determined by a number of factors, but reversing negative trends is difficult because they are ingrained and the means to change them are not forthcoming. There is a political theory called nudging that says that if people are nudged toward certain behavior — such as saving money or eating healthy — they will find it easier to accept that behavior. But it would take a concerted effort among all institutions — governments, businesses, schools — to do the nudging toward healthy behavior. This recent study is a wake-up call for more emphasis on healthy living.
Editorials
Editorial: Survey shows county suffers from unhealthy lifestyles
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Editorial: If bullying tale is true, APA right to release headmaster
