Health and Nutrition of New England, ND Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty one percent of New England residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 14 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 two 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 New England 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). Twenty seven percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. New England residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 41 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 20 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of New England residents 16 years and older is 66 inches. The average weight is 189 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 31. Thirty percent of people living here are obese. Sixty percent have ever been obese. Forty four percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

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

Drug Use

Seventy eight percent of New England residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Thirty four percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Thirty four percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Twenty six percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Eleven percent of people living in New England have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Seventy percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. One percent of city residents are currently taking insulin.

Summary

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

Kidney Conditions-Urology

New England 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

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

Taste & Smell

Six percent of New England 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. Two percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Fifty five percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Thirty seven percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Eight percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Forty 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 four percent of people living in New England are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Twenty percent of people living in New England have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Fourteen percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Fifty two percent of people in New England frequently check their blood cholesterol. Twenty four 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

Thirty one percent of people living in New England use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

Twenty seven percent of New England residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Forty two percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Fifty three percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Sixty three percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Thirty three percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Thirty eight percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Thirty three percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Thirty six 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.

Summary

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

Prescription Medications

New England residents on average take two prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Seventy seven percent of people living in New England have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Six percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 5.6 days per month on average. They have 14.2 drinks per week.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety eight percent of New England residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Hundred percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Ninety five percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Eighty two percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Ninety six percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Eighty five percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty two percent have ever had anal sex. Twenty one percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in New England were 15 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 23 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on 15 women. People in New England were 18 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Three percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in New England has vaginal or anal sex 35 times a year. Twenty percent have sex without using a condom. Females in New England 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with 10 men on average. They have had seven male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.6 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Eighty percent of men 18 years old and older are circumcised.

Summary

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

Pesticide Use

Twenty four percent of households in New England use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Nine percent use chemical products in their lawns or gardens to kill weeds.

Summary

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

Sleep Disorders

New England residents 16 years and older usually get six hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Twenty nine percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Sixty percent of New England residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Nineteen percent of New England 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 two 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. Twenty three percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty nine 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 five 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 three 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 1.0 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Six percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Sixty percent are overweight. Fifteen percent of people 60 years and older have difficulties in thinking or remembering that can make a big difference in everyday activities (this does not refer to occasionally forgetting your keys or the name of someone you recently met). This refers to things like confusion or memory loss that are happening more often or getting worse. Eighteen percent of people living in New England have ever received a blood transfusion. Twenty nine percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Fifty three percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Two percent have coronary heart disease. Two percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Six percent have another thyroid problem. Two percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Seven 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

Seventy six percent of births in New England were vaginal deliveries. Twenty four percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.8 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Thirty eight percent of women breastfeed their children. Twenty three percent of women in New England have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Eighteen percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Forty eight percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Six percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Ten percent have ever used female hormones such as estrogen and progesterone, including any forms of female hormones, such as pills, cream, patch and injections, but do not include birth control methods or use for infertility.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in New England report their general health condition on average at 41 percent. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 54 percent of New England residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Five percent of people living in New England are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in New England spend $301 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 19 percent of their income. The average family in New England spends $63 on food at other stores monthly. This is three percent of their income. They spend $98 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is six percent of their income. They also spend $10 monthly on carried out or delivered food.

Summary

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

Audiometry

People living in New England report their general condition of hearing on average at 80 percent. Seventy nine 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. Ninety percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Forty seven percent of New England population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Fifty one 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. Seventeen percent of people in New England had off-work exposure to loud noise.

Summary

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

Preventive Aspirin Use

Thirty six percent of New England 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

Eighteen percent of New England 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. Twenty four percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Five percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Twenty three percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Four percent of people here have health problems that require them to use special equipment, such as a cane, wheelchair, special bed or special telephone.

Summary

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