N.C. health needs work, group says

Smoking ban helps give state better grade in tobacco area; other categories remain stable

By: Richard Craver | JOURNAL REPORTER
Published: May 28, 2009

A checkup on North Carolina's overall health found slight improvement for the first time in four years, according to a report by a nonprofit group released yesterday.

However, officials with N.C. Prevention Partners said they believe that North Carolinians will benefit significantly from the recently approved statewide ban on smoking in bars and restaurants, which will take effect Jan. 2.

The group gave the state a C-plus for tobacco use, up from a C in the 2008 study. The grade for nutrition and physical activity remained a D for the third consecutive report.

The grades are based on comparisons with the 2010 goals of the national Healthy People initiative.

"North Carolina has taken a giant step forward by ensuring that all restaurant and bar workers won't have to breathe dangerous secondhand smoke at their workplace," said Dr. Meg Malloy, the president and chief executive of the group.

"We estimate that, with the law going into effect, the statewide tobacco grade will improve almost a full letter," Malloy said.

The report found that while youth smoking continues to decrease in the state, the rate of adult North Carolinians smoking -- 23 percent -- was unchanged. The percentage of middle-school students who smoke declined from 11 percent in 2007 to 9 percent, and high schoolers from 29 percent to 27 percent.

The group said that a key factor in further reducing tobacco use is the $1 a pack increase in the cigarette tax proposed by Gov. Bev Perdue.

Senate Democrats back a 15-cent increase as a more realistic goal, given that the current cigarette tax is 35 cents.

"Continued focus of energy and resources on prevention -- particularly a higher cigarette tax -- means an A on tobacco is visible on the horizon in the near future," Malloy said.

According to the report, more North Carolinians became overweight or obese last year as measured by the body-mass index.

About 65 percent of adults in the state are either overweight or obese compared with 63 percent in 2007, 61 percent in 2005 and 59 percent in 2002. Also, 34 percent of middle-school students and 30 percent of high-school students are either overweight or obese.

"Getting worthless, cheap calories has become too easy," said Peg O'Connell, the chairwoman of the group.

About 44 percent of adults are getting the recommend amount of physical activity -- defined as an hour a day most days of the week. That's up from 42 percent in 2007 and 38 percent in 2005 -- but short of the 50 percent nationwide.

The group said it would begin offering report cards on the same three categories at the county level in September.

■ Richard Craver can be reached at 727-7376 or at rcraver@wsjournal.com.