Minnesota is an active and generally healthy state, but it does have its share of health issues. Due to our society’s increasingly sedentary nature and poor eating habits, the rates of chronic and often preventable conditions such as obesity, heart disease and high blood pressure, type two diabetes, and cancer have risen steeply. Minnesotans in Willmar are not exempt from these statistics.

Obesity

Being overweight and clinical obesity are major contributing factors to other health problems. More than 30% of Minnesota’s adult population and more than 20% of its juvenile population are either overweight or obese. Willmar participates in the federal SHIP program’s Farm to School initiative. This increases students’ intake of fruits and vegetables that have been locally grown and incorporates healthy food from area farms into school meals. This approach helps children to understand where food comes from, how food affects their bodies, the natural environment, and the community.

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the second leading cause of death in Minnesota, with one in every four deaths attributed to some form of cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association in Willmar, and other cities across the state, has started a program called “Mission: Lifeline,” that’s designed to educate people about the symptoms of a heart attack so they can seek treatment quickly and enable hospitals to make quicker diagnoses. A proper diagnosis, regular health care, and healthy lifestyle habits are the best way to reduce the risk for heart disease in children.

Diabetes

As statewide statistics show, diabetes has increased by half in the last decade and is now the sixth leading cause of death in Minnesota. Almost 300,000 Minnesotans have some form of diabetes, and nearly a million have pre-diabetes. The number of individuals with diabetes in Willmar continues to grow, as does the number of patients across the state. The adult diabetes rate in Willmar is currently at 7%. The Willmar Diabetes Center (WDC) promotes healthy lives for diabetics, as they believe that knowledge is key for those who have diabetes.

Cancer

Cancer is the primary cause of death in Minnesota, with more than 9,000 fatalities in 2009. Nearly half of all Minnesotans will receive a cancer diagnosis in their lives. Nearly a third of these diagnoses is linked to obesity. The Willmar cancer research center actively works to provide information on cancer prevention and early detection, when treatment is most effective. There are also cancer support groups in the Willmar area offering education, counseling for those newly diagnosed and their families, as well as regular screenings and assessments.

Willmar is one of Minnesota’s largest cities and has an active and vibrant population. The city’s struggles with chronic diseases is being addressed on a local and state level by increasing awareness about how to prevent and deal with conditions such as obesity and heart disease. By addressing dietary problems and encouraging physical fitness, the root causes of many health problems can be greatly reduced.