After completing the State Health Assessment, Uproot work groups have developed two areas that represent efforts where strong work is being done, and where we can make a lasting impact on Mississippi’s health.
Fighting Obesity to Manage Chronic Disease
If Mississippians can improve rates of obesity, the state could save over $13 billion annually in unnecessary health care costs. Obesity is a root cause of most chronic illnesses. The consequences of obesity are Type 2 diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, stroke, and dementia. Public health has an essential role to play in educating Mississippians and amplifying ideas that help turn the tide on our state’s obesity trends.
Improving Social Determinants of Health
Social determinants of health (SDOH) are the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age that affect a wide range of health, functioning, and quality-of-life outcomes and risks. SDOH contribute to wide health disparities and inequities.