Health and Nutrition of Merrill, IA Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Fifty five percent of Merrill residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 20 times per month. This includes chocolate and other flavored milks, as well as hot cocoa made with milk, and does not count small amounts of milk added to coffee or tea. People living here eat an average of three meals (breakfasts, lunches or dinners) per week that were prepared away from home in places such as restaurants, fast food places, food stands, grocery stores or from vending machines. They get two of these meals from a fast-food or pizza place. People here eat two "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat three frozen meals or frozen pizzas on average monthly.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Oral Health

The average Merrill resident last visited a dentist two years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Six percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Seventeen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Merrill residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 50 percent. People living here aged 30 years and older, aside from brushing their teeth with toothbrush, use dental floss or any other device that clean between teeth on average two days per week. They also use mouthwash or other dental rinse products to treat dental disease or dental problems an average of three days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 23 teeth.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Weight

The average height of Merrill residents 16 years and older is 63 inches. The average weight is 161 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 28. Thirty five percent of people living here are obese. Fifty two percent have ever been obese. Forty one percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Drug Use

Forty two percent of Merrill residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Six percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Diabetes

Seventeen percent of people living in Merrill have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Forty one percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Kidney Conditions-Urology

Merrill residents 20 years and older on average get up to urinate one time at night (from time they go to bed at night until the time they get up in the morning).

Summary

Taste & Smell

Twenty five percent of Merrill residents above the age of 40 have problems with their ability to smell, such as not being able to smell things or things not smelling the way they are supposed to. Seventy nine percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Thirteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Thirty eight percent have had two or more sinus infections.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Health Insurance

Sixty nine percent of people living in Merrill are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Nineteen percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Thirty five percent of people in Merrill frequently check their blood cholesterol. Seventeen percent of people have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that their blood cholesterol level was high.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Dermatology

Forty one percent of people living in Merrill use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Twenty five percent of Merrill residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Fourteen percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Thirty nine percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Fifty five percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Twenty nine percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Fourteen percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Thirteen percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Twelve percent of people living here move or speak so slowly that other people could have noticed, or the opposite - being so fidgety or restless that they have been moving around a lot more than usual. Seven percent have thoughts that they would be better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Prescription Medications

Merrill residents on average take one prescription medicines.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Alcohol use

Sixty two percent of people living in Merrill have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Twenty five percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Sexual Behavior

Ninety seven percent of Merrill residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety seven percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy seven percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty nine percent have ever had anal sex. Five percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Merrill were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 21 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Merrill were 21 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on three men in their lifetime. Sixteen percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Merrill has vaginal or anal sex 81 times a year. Fifty seven percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Merrill 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with five men on average. They have had four male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Pesticide Use

Sixteen percent of households in Merrill use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Sleep Disorders

Merrill residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Twenty five percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Thirty six percent of Merrill residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Physical Activity

Eight percent of Merrill residents' work involve vigorous-intensity activity that causes large increases in breathing or heart rate, like carrying or lifting heavy loads, digging or construction work for at least 10 minutes continuously. Thirty four percent of people do moderate-intensity activities at work that cause small increases in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking or carrying light loads for at least 10 minutes continuously. Thirty two percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Fourteen percent do any vigorous-intensity sports, fitness or recreational activities that cause large increases in breathing or heart rate like running or basketball for at least 10 minutes continuously. Forty one percent do any moderate-intensity sports, fitness or recreational activities that cause a small increase in breathing or heart rate such as brisk walking, bicycling, swimming or golf for at least 10 minutes continuously. People living here spend six hours sitting on a typical day (this includes sitting at work, at home, getting to and from places, or with friends, including time spent sitting at a desk, traveling in a car or bus, reading, playing cards, watching television or using a computer). They usually sit and watch TV or videos for about two hours per day. They use a computer or play computer games (including Playstation, Nintendo DS, or other portable video games) outside of work or school for 1.4 hours per day.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Medical Conditions

Eight percent of Merrill residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Three percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Thirty nine percent are overweight. Eighteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Twelve percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Ten percent have ever had emphysema. Two percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. Two percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Fifteen percent have ever had cancer or a malignancy of any kind.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Reproductive Health

Fifty seven percent of births in Merrill were vaginal deliveries. Forty three percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.9 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty four percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy nine percent of women breastfeed their children. Fifty four percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Eight percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Forty three percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Current Health Status

People living in Merrill report their general health condition on average at 52 percent. Six percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 26 percent of Merrill residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Eleven percent of people living in Merrill are left-handed.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Consumer Behavior

People in Merrill spend $384 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 18 percent of their income. The average family in Merrill spends $97 on food at other stores monthly. This is four percent of their income. They spend $144 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is five percent of their income. They also spend $34 monthly on carried out or delivered food. This is one percent of their income.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Audiometry

People living in Merrill report their general condition of hearing on average at 82 percent. Ninety two percent of them can usually hear and understand, without the use of a hearing aid or any other listening devices, what a person says without seeing his or her face if that person whispers to them from across a quiet room. Hundred percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Eighteen percent of people living here have ever had a job where they were exposed to loud sounds or noise. Loud means so loud that they must speak in a raised voice to be heard.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Preventive Aspirin Use

Fifty eight percent of Merrill residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.

Physical Functioning

Fourteen percent of Merrill residents 20 or older have limitations caused by a long-term physical, mental or emotional problems or illnesses keeping them from working at a job or business. Fourteen percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Ten percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment.

Summary

The biggest differences compared to state averages have been highlighted with a blue background.