Toss that Twinkie in the trash!

Two-thirds of all men and half the women in the Leatherstocking Region of Central New York are overweight or obese, according to the results of research conducted by Bassett Healthcare and constitutes a major health problem.

The Bassett Research Institute recently presented the results of the ten-year, seven county rural health survey to representatives of the New York State Department of Health (DOH) in Albany, an organization that helped to fund Health Census 99, a comprehensive survey of health. The findings assist health care professionals in evaluating the health status and healthcare needs of the community.

"The Health Department is pleased that the Bassett survey is so comprehensive and complete, and that it will help both the state and our partners at the local level shape public health prevention activities in rural areas," said Dr. Antonia C. Novello, state health commissioner.

Bassett found that nearly 67 percent of men and 49 percent of women are overweight or obese. The percentage of the population considered overweight and obese has increased by 20 and 60 percent respectively over the past decade.

"These findings support the decision we have made to focus our research efforts on obesity," said Allan Green, PhD, Director of the Bassett Research Institute.

Dr. Roberta Reed of Bassett said now that "descriptive statistics" have been compiled, researchers can now begin to make associations between facts and start to understand the factors contributing to obesity.

"Fewer people are physically active in their jobs," she said. "People sit at a desk, at a computer, at a phone, even farmers are doing more of their work from a tractor. There is more of a reliance from schools, institutions of al kinds and even supermarkets upon processed foods high in fat and sugar. Schools have decreased recess time and replaced it with less active activities, like computer labs."

Reed said that there is a distinction between being overweight and obese. An index of body mass is used by physicians to determine which category a person falls into, but Reed said that generally if target weight is slightly exceeded, this means a person is overweight, and if it is greatly exceeded, then chances are obesity is the problem.

"Overweight people are not necessarily at risk for serious illnesses like diabetes and heart disease the way obese people are," said Reed.

Bassett is in the process of seeking funding from the USDA for more research regarding weight, Reed said.

Improvements have been found locally as well. The rate at which the populations is screened for chronic diseases such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure and cancer has improved markedly. There has been a sixty percent increase in the number of women over forty getting yearly mammograms. Smoking rates have dropped by a fifth, but still remain slightly higher than the national average.

"This is an area where we need improvement," said Dr. Green. "Bassett has a specific commitment to serving the needs of the rural population in our area. This survey shows where we've made progress and where problems still exist."

"Bassett will use this knowledge to implement new research and clinical programs to enhance the health and well-being of residents in our region and other rural areas," said Dr. William Streck, president and CEO of Bassett Healthcare.