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Orange County Community Health Assessment - Executive Summary | 7 Chronic Disease, Exercise, and Nutrition Exercise and proper nutrition are key interventions for individuals to reach a healthy body weight, for unlike genetics, metabolism, environment, culture, and socioeconomic factors, both are relatively modifiable health risk behaviors. A lack of physical activity has a negative effect on health, and is contributing to the increase in obesity. Meeting recommendations for physical activity can help prevent cardio-metabolic conditions such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease, respiratory ailments, high blood pressure, stroke, atherosclerosis, and osteoporosis. Many factors contribute to the lack of physical activity. Notably, the reliance of technological adoptions in the home, workplace, and schools has reduced the innate need to be active in order to survive. Technology like televisions and the internet can promote sedentary behavior. Moreover, America’s car dependent society coupled with the design of sprawling communities, make people opt out of physically active transport, like biking or walking. Lastly, many school environments have eliminated or reduced recess or physical education programs. Healthy eating and proper nutrition is associated with reduced risk for many diseases, including the three leading causes of death: heart disease, cancer, and stroke. Eating patterns that are focused on consuming fewer calories and making informed food choices can help people attain and maintain a healthy weight, reduce their risk of chronic disease, and promote overall health. Many factors contribute to current poor nutritional habits and have occurred over the long term. These factors include increased access to fast foods, rising prices of fruits and vegetables, and marketing of high sugar and high fat foods to children. Limited access to, availability and affordability of fresh healthy foods are of concerns as well, particularly for those with insufficient financial resources. Good nutrition begins in infancy. Research shows that there is a strong association between breast feeding and the decreased incidence of overweight and obesity. The family and home environment also influence the types of foods children eat. Children often rely on their parents to shop for food and prepare meals, thus it is important for parents to model healthy behaviors and make an effort to purchase healthy foods and prepare meals at home rather than dining out. Healthy eating in childhood and adolescence is important for proper growth and development, and can prevent health problems such as obesity, diabetes, dental caries, and iron deficiency anemia. Chronic Disease