Health and Nutrition of West Chatham, MA Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Fifty percent of West Chatham residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 18 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 four 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 three "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat six 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 West Chatham 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). Seventeen percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Nineteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). West Chatham residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 48 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 three 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 26 teeth.

Summary

Weight

The average height of West Chatham residents 16 years and older is 67 inches. The average weight is 186 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty percent of people living here are obese. Forty nine percent have ever been obese. Thirty five percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

Drug Use

Sixty five percent of West Chatham residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty two percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twenty two percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Nine percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Twelve percent of people living in West Chatham have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Thirty three percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Four 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

West Chatham 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 one percent of West Chatham 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. Fifty one percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Sixteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Twenty percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Twenty 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 five percent of people living in West Chatham are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Thirteen percent of people living in West Chatham have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Fifteen percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Thirty four percent of people in West Chatham frequently check their blood cholesterol. Thirteen 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 percent of people living in West Chatham use sunscreen.

Summary

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

Mental Health

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

West Chatham residents on average take one prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Eighty one percent of people living in West Chatham have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Fourteen percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 4.6 days per month on average. They have 6.5 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 20 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of West Chatham residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety six percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Eighty six percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Fifty nine percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Four percent of males in West Chatham have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety nine percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy five percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Thirty six percent have ever had anal sex. Ten percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in West Chatham were 17 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 35 women. He has vaginal sex with 31 women. People living here were on average 20 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. In their lifetime they performed oral sex on average on seven women. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 1.3 men on average. People in West Chatham were 18 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Twelve percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in West Chatham has vaginal or anal sex 67 times a year. Forty six percent have sex without using a condom. Females in West Chatham 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with nine men on average. They have had eight male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.2 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Seventy six 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

Twelve percent of households in West Chatham use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects. Four 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

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

Summary

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

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Sixty percent of West Chatham residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Twenty six percent of West Chatham 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. Forty 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. Thirty nine percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Forty 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 five 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 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 1.4 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Eight percent of West Chatham 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". Two percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Twenty eight percent are overweight. Nineteen 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. Six percent of people living in West Chatham have ever received a blood transfusion. Eighteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Sixteen percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Four percent have ever been told they had gout. Five percent have coronary heart disease. One percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Three percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Two percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. One percent have ever had emphysema. Three percent have another thyroid problem. Three 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

Sixty seven percent of births in West Chatham were vaginal deliveries. Thirty three percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.6 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty six percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Seventy eight percent of women breastfeed their children. Thirteen percent of women in West Chatham have ever had a hysterectomy, including a partial hysterectomy (that is, surgery to remove their uterus or womb). Five percent had both of their ovaries removed (either when they had their uterus removed or at another time). Eighty one percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Twenty seven percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy. Eighteen 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 West Chatham report their general health condition on average at 56 percent. Seven percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 50 percent of West Chatham residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Eight percent of people living in West Chatham are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in West Chatham spend $367 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 33 percent of their income. The average family in West Chatham spends $97 on food at other stores monthly. This is six percent of their income. They spend $140 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is 10 percent of their income. 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 West Chatham report their general condition of hearing on average at 84 percent. Eighty seven 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. Nineteen percent of West Chatham population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Forty 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. Twenty five percent of people in West Chatham 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 six percent of West Chatham residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

Physical Functioning

Twelve percent of West Chatham 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. Sixteen 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. Six percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion.

Summary

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