Health and Nutrition of Somers, IA Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty eight percent of Somers residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 19 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 one of these meals from a fast-food or pizza place. People here eat one "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 Somers resident last visited a dentist one years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Thirteen percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Thirteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Somers residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 52 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 four days per week. They also use mouthwash or other dental rinse products to treat dental disease or dental problems an average of four days per week. The average person living here (including children) has 25 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Somers residents 16 years and older is 62 inches. The average weight is 158 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty percent of people living here are obese. Forty five percent have ever been obese. Fifty 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 one percent of Somers residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Seven 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 Somers have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Sixty percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Three 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

Somers 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

Six percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Sixty three percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty six percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Ten percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury.

Summary

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

Health Insurance

Seventy eight percent of people living in Somers are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Twenty percent of people living in Somers have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Twenty one percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Forty five percent of people in Somers frequently check their blood cholesterol. Fourteen 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 two percent of people living in Somers use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

Somers residents on average take two 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 Somers have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Twenty two percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 2.1 days per month on average. They have 2.7 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on eight days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety six percent of Somers residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety three percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Eighty two percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty eight percent have ever had anal sex. Seven percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Somers were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 17 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Somers were 19 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Sixteen percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Somers has vaginal or anal sex 40 times a year. Twenty six percent have sex without using a condom.

Summary

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

Pesticide Use

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

Somers residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Twenty 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 one percent of Somers residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Twenty eight 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 nine percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty 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. Twenty eight 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 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 1.7 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Six percent of Somers residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Three percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Thirty six percent are overweight. Ten 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. Thirteen percent of people living in Somers have ever received a blood transfusion. Twenty two percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Thirty six percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Three percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Fourteen percent have another thyroid problem. Five percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Six 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 six percent of births in Somers were vaginal deliveries. Forty four percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.5 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty six percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy three percent of women breastfeed their children. Twenty percent of women in Somers have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Six percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Seventy two percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Five percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Eleven percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Nineteen 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 Somers report their general health condition on average at 54 percent. Six percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 30 percent of Somers residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Five percent of people living in Somers are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Somers spend $368 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 24 percent of their income. The average family in Somers spends $77 on food at other stores monthly. This is four percent of their income. They spend $113 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is nine percent of their income. They also spend $23 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 Somers report their general condition of hearing on average at 80 percent. Eighty 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 nine percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Ten percent of Somers population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Seventeen 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. Ten percent of people in Somers 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

Twenty four percent of Somers residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Twelve percent of Somers 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. Nineteen 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. Six percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion. Seven 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.