Health promotion

How is King County doing?

Chronic conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and obesity, lung diseases and injuries are the leading causes of death and disability in King County. Tobacco use, physical inactivity and poor nutrition are important risk factors for developing many chronic conditions.

• Chronic diseases cause the majority (65 percent) of deaths in the county. In 2007, cancer killed 2,835 people; heart disease 2,642; lung conditions 516; and diabetes killed 329 and contributed to an additional 744 deaths. Of particular concern is the doubling of diabetes cases in the past decade and the rapid increase in obesity. Heart disease and cancer rates, in contrast, have been declining.
• Smoking among adults is declining and currently 10.6 percent of King County residents age 18 and older smoke. Tobacco addiction usually begins early in life; 9 percent of King County children in 6th, 8th, 10th and 12th grades combined have smoked at least once in the last 30 days.
• The obesity rate in adults has been climbing during the past two decades, while the percent of adults who are overweight has leveled off. More than one in five adults (21.3 percent) are obese and more than half are overweight. Nine percent of school age children are overweight.
• In 2007, 15.9% of King County adults reported that they had not participated in any physical activity in the preceding month. Only 55.4 percent of county adults reportedly met physical activity recommendations. The percentage of grade school children meeting activity recommendations usually decreases as children grow older (38 percent in 8th grade to 32 percent in 12th grade).
• In 2007, 23.2 percent of adults reported eating the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables per day. Among children in grades eight, 10 and 12, 28 percent, 30 percent and 22 percent ate five-a-day respectively.
• Substantial inequities by race/ethnicity, income and community are seen in unhealthy weight and physical inactivity. For instance, 23.0 percent of adults in Tukwila are inactive, compared to 7.0 percent in Vashon Island.

What else influences these indicators?

Healthy eating, active living and tobacco avoidance affect a wide range of health outcomes, such as heart disease, cancer, lung diseases, bone health and mental health. Access to healthy and affordable foods and knowledge of good nutritional practices influence healthy eating. Environments that support physical activity (e.g. safe sidewalks, walking trails, parks); access to opportunities for physical activity in schools, worksites and communities; and social support for active lifestyles all increase active living.

Access to tobacco for minors, tobacco taxes, advertising, second-hand smoke and access to smoking cessation resources all influence tobacco use.

What role does King County government play?

To support healthy eating, the county promotes menu nutritional labeling, removal of trans fat from foods, farmers markets, and community-based nutrition education. It encourages physical activity by maintaining walking and bike trails, parks and recreational facilities; developing zoning and planning processes that lead to walkable and bikeable communities; and supporting walking groups.

King County reduces tobacco use by limiting tobacco advertising and sales, enforcing no-smoking ordinances, and providing assistance to medical providers for offering smoking cessation counseling to patients.