Medicare Agent News: INSIDER: State fruit & vegetable intake

February 2022

Greetings,

You may have already seen the good news that US adults overall are more physically active than they were 20 years ago. This finding, with data from multiple surveillance systems, is from a supplement published in August.

Yet new state-level maps show that 25.3% of US adults are physically inactive. These maps use combined data from 2017 through 2020 from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Survey respondents were classified as physically inactive if they reported no physical activity outside their regular job in the last month.

Both research pieces document health disparities. The supplement reveals important differences among some racial groups, across income levels, among people with chronic health conditions, and among young people. The new maps show that physical inactivity varies notably by race, ethnicity, and location.

These are critical issues because physical activity can be a matter of life and death. A research letter published in January estimates that 110,000 deaths per year could be prevented if US adults aged 40 and older increased moderate-to-vigorous physical activity by a small amount—even 10 minutes a day.

What Can Be Done?

To help children build a healthy foundation, states can promote physical activity standards in early care and education (ECE) settings. Your state ECE scorecard shows where you stand.

Communities can create safe spaces for people to walk, bike, or roll to everyday destinations. People can more easily meet physical activity guidelines if they incorporate activity into their regular routines.

Two years ago, we launched Active People, Healthy Nation^SM to help 27 million Americans become more physically active. If you haven’t yet, sign up today. You will receive monthly updates with a community spotlight and tools for action. While you’re waiting for the February issue, find the topic on this page that aligns with your profession or interest. You’ll find ways to encourage physical activity in your community.

Whatever strategy you use, remember to work toward health equity. These tools are designed to help remove barriers to health and achieve health equity.

Dr. Ruth Petersen, Director, DNPAO

CDC and Health and Human Services logos

Feature Of The Month

US Fruit and Vegetable Intake Remains Low

In 2019, fruit and vegetable consumption among US adults remained low, according to a report published in January. Overall, 12.3% of adults met recommendations for fruit intake, and 10% met recommendations for vegetable intake.

The report notes differences by state, age, sex, race/ethnicity, and household income. Overall:

More women than men met both fruit and vegetable intake recommendations.
More adults aged 51 and older than adults aged 18 to 30 met vegetable recommendations.
More Hispanic adults than non-Hispanic White adults met fruit intake recommendations.
More adults in households in the highest income category met vegetable intake recommendations than adults in middle- and lower-income categories.

See state-specific data tables for:

The 2018 State Indicator Report describes data on ways to increase fruit and vegetable purchases, supply, and demand. The accompanying State Action Guides highlight steps to increase fruit and vegetable consumption and promote healthy food environments, especially in settings that reach children and families.

Healthy eating emphasizes fruits and vegetables along with whole grains, fat-free or low-fat milk and milk products, and a variety of protein foods. Healthy eating boosts immunity, helps maintain a healthy weight, supports muscles and bones, and lowers adults’ risk of heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and some cancers. See more benefits.

Recommended daily amounts of healthy foods depend on factors such as age and activity level. Find the right amount for you with MyPlate Plan.

News You Can Use

Save the Date: DNPAO Seminar Series

The next DNPAO Seminar Series will be Thursday, March 31, at 2 p.m. (EST). Speakers will discuss community work to support breastfeeding.

What's New

Learn how to use the mPINC Ten Steps Assessment Tool with two new videos that provide an overview and demonstration. The Maternity Practices in Infant Nutrition and Care (mPINC) hospital survey assesses practices and provides feedback for improvements that better support breastfeeding.

Everyone can be involved in Active People, Healthy Nation. If you work in sports and fitness, see effective strategies that make it easier for everyone in your community to be physically active.

Los beneficios de la actividad física para los niños is a new infographic in Spanish about the benefits of physical activity for children. For adults see, La actividad física para los adultos.

Research project grants to study COVID-19 impacts on food/nutrition and housing insecurity are available from the National Institutes of Health. Letters of intent are due March 7. See the request for proposals.

The Community Preventive Services Task Force (Community Guide) has a new recommendation for digital health and telephone interventions to increase healthy eating and physical activity. Also see an updated fact sheet that summarizes evidence-based findings what works to prevent overweight and obesity.

DNPAO provides a daily summary of news about access to healthy food, physical activity, obesity, breastfeeding, and tobacco. This resource helps readers stay aware of current trends and work being done across the country to support healthy living. Email us to receive the DNPAO media monitor and to add a news clip.

Nominations Open for 2022 REACH Lark Award Challenge

DNPAO is accepting applications for the biennial 2022 REACH Lark Galloway-Gilliam Award for Advancing Health Equity Challenge (REACH Lark Award Challenge). Nominations will be accepted through March 18, 2022, at 11:59 p.m. (EST).

The Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) program is at the forefront of CDC’s efforts to reduce health disparities. The REACH Lark Award Challenge is in memory of Lark Galloway-Gilliam’s meaningful and far-reaching contributions to the REACH program and health equity.

The REACH Lark Award Challenge recognizes extraordinary individuals and organizations or community coalitions associated with the REACH program. Award recipients will have meaningfully assisted with and carried out culturally tailored interventions that advance health equity, reduce health disparities, and increase community engagement. Their work will have addressed preventable risk factors such as tobacco use, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, and inadequate access to clinical services in population/groups disproportionately affected by chronic disease. Lessie Williams of Portland, Oregon, received the first REACH Lark Award in 2020.

We encourage you and your partners to consider submitting a nomination. For award rules and an application, see Challenge.gov.

Win From the Field: Ideas From CDC-Funded Grantees

“Harvest of the Moon” Connects Indigenous

Foods With Menominee Traditions

The Menominee Nation’s traditional knowledge, language, and culture offer guidance for healthy lifestyles. To strengthen those connections, a “Harvest of the Moon” initiative integrates the Menominee’s language, 13 phases of the moon, and art with indigenous recipes.

A Harvest of the Moon teachers’ guide features Menominee and English names, traditional recipes, learning activities, and Menominee teachings about each food. Supplemental materials include coloring sheets and tips to adapt activities to virtual learning

By the end of 2021, 107 posters, 367 coloring books, and 90 curriculum binders were distributed among schools, early childhood education programs, aging services, and language immersion programs. At one Head Start facility, families received a tote bag with wild rice and a Harvest of the Moon recipe. Families were encouraged to share photos on social media of dishes they made with the recipe.

Future plans are to feature 13 additional indigenous foods aligned with each moon. New videos will show the harvesting, processing, and preparation of Harvest of the Moon foods. One goal is for young people to learn about and revitalize traditional food practices. Project leaders also hope to build a supply chain for indigenous foods.

Harvest of the Moon is part of the Kemāmaceqtaq: We’re All Moving project to increase access to healthier foods and safe places for physical activity.

The Kemāmaceqtaq project is based at the University of Wisconsin Madison Division of Extension. The university is a High Obesity Program site that works with community extension services in counties where more than 40% of adults have obesity.