Chronic Diseases and Minority and Low-Income Communities

By Greg Cook, WHF Associate

Chronic diseases are found in all groups of people of all different races and income levels. However, minority and low-income groups represent a disproportionate number of those suffering from chronic diseases linked to poor nutrition, lack of physical activity, and tobacco use. The federal Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Washington State are both addressing the health disparities found in minority communities.

Now local efforts to improve health within minority communities seem to be bearing fruit. The REACH coalition of Public Health—Seattle and King County has been working to reduce levels of diabetes in high-risk communities. The Seattle Times reports on one Mexican restaurant owner who—concerned for both his personal and community health—worked with REACH to provide a healthier menu for his patrons. Growing awareness of the costs of chronic disease among minority communities and business owners coupled with technical assistance from local public health experts is proving to be a winning combination in reducing health disparities and improving health for all of our state’s residents. Restaurant owner Ramiro Rubio recognized the possible took advantage of public health’s nutritional expertise to use more healthful ingredients to replace some of the less-healthy starches and fats. He and a nutritionist worked together to balance concerns about elements like flavor, amounts of carbohydrates, and traditions such as chips and salsa on every table. Rubio is trying to make a small contribution to the health of his community while acknowledging the deep rootedness of food habits within a culture.

Foods once considered “ethnic” are moving into the mainstream. One example of this trend is the fast-growing national chain Chipotle Mexican Grill, which operates on a “food with integrity” philosophy to serve its customers locally-sourced and nutritionally sound products. Chipotle has gone outside the standard mass-procurement model to locate and work with producers of meat, poultry, and other foods who eschew the industrial style models that prevailed for decades. Leaders in the effort to get a broader range of healthy nutritious foods to the public and especially populations in public institutions are considering alternative methods of food procurement.

Minority and low-income communities may be especially prone to chronic disease due to lack of access to a full range of nutritional food and healthy activities. The CDC’s approach to pushing down chronic disease takes into consideration those factors and uses a range of “MAPPS” strategies: Media, Access, Point of decision information, Price, and Social support/services. The Washington Health Foundation (in collaboration with the Washington State Department of Health) is guided by MAPPS in its Healthiest Communities Partnership, a public/private partnership to reduce chronic disease across Washington state and throughout all its communities.

To find out more about the Healthiest Communities Partnership click here.