Public Health Issues
A report issued by the Centers for Disease Control August 15, 2008, using survey data from 2006, reported that Huntington is among the unhealthiest cities in America. The survey found that 24.3% of adults 18 years-of-age or older reported themselves as in poor to fair health. The survey also found that 48.1% of residents over 65 years of age in the Huntington-Ashland, West Virginia-Kentucky-Ohio statistical area had all their natural teeth extracted. In addition, the CDC reports that 45.5% of adults over the age of 20 years are obese. 21.6% of adults over 45 years of age reported a diagnosis of coronary heart disease while another 12.7% of adults aged 18 or older reported a diagnosis of diabetes. An Associated Press article describes lifestyle and cultural barriers as obstacles to better public health. As examples, the article describes local eating habits (the number of pizza shops in Huntington alone exceeding the total number of health clubs available in the entire state of West Virginia), the relatively sedentary culture, and poor education as causes for health issues described in the CDC report. In an MSNBC report published November 16, 2008, Huntington was rated as the unhealthiest city in the United States. The study took into consideration obesity rates, toothlessness and levels of healthcare.
Despite the high levels of obesity, the lack of basic dental care, and some of the highest incidents of diabetes and heart disease in the United States, Huntington city leaders have not identified the general unhealthy population as a significant problem. Former Huntington Mayor, David Felinton, has said, referring to the Huntington's public health problems, "It doesn't come up."
As a consequence of Huntington's high rates of obesity, diabetes and coronary heart disease, Huntington was selected by Jamie Oliver to be the location of his television series, Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.
Read more about this topic: Huntington, West Virginia
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