Health and Nutrition of North Bennington, VT Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Sixty one percent of North Bennington residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 20 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 six 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 two "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month. They also eat four 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 North Bennington resident last visited a dentist one years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Six percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Thirteen percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). North Bennington residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 67 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 27 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of North Bennington residents 16 years and older is 70 inches. The average weight is 189 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 27. Twenty four percent of people living here are obese. Thirty three percent have ever been obese. Thirty six percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

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

Drug Use

Sixty eight percent of North Bennington residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Fourteen percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Fourteen percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. One percent have ever used heroin.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Seven percent of people living in North Bennington have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Forty seven percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Three percent of city residents are currently taking insulin.

Summary

Kidney Conditions-Urology

North Bennington 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

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

Taste & Smell

Eleven percent of North Bennington 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. Eight percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Sixty five percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Forty one percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Seventeen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Thirty one percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Forty three 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

Ninety one percent of people living in North Bennington are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Eighteen percent of people living in North Bennington have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Twenty percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Fifty one percent of people in North Bennington frequently check their blood cholesterol. Fifteen 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

Forty nine percent of people living in North Bennington use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

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

Summary

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

Prescription Medications

North Bennington residents on average take two prescription medicines.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Ninety four percent of people living in North Bennington have at least one alcoholic drink per month. People living here drink alcohol 8.0 days per month on average. They have 5.5 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 17 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety two percent of North Bennington residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Eighty seven percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Eighty four percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Thirty percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Nine percent of males in North Bennington 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. Eighty seven percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Fifty percent have ever had anal sex. Twenty five percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in North Bennington were 18 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 11 women. He has vaginal sex with seven 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 four women. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 2.3 men on average. They have had 1.0 anal sex partners in their lifetime. People in North Bennington were 19 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. They performed oral sex on average on two men in their lifetime. Three percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in North Bennington has vaginal or anal sex 55 times a year. Fifty six percent have sex without using a condom. Females in North Bennington 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with 11 men on average. They have had 10 male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.7 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Ninety 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

Nine percent of households in North Bennington 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

Sleep Disorders

North Bennington 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

Thirty five percent of North Bennington residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Eighteen percent of North Bennington 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. Twenty eight 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. Forty one percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Fifty one 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. Sixty one 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 eight 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 two 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 1.6 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Seven percent of North Bennington residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. One percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Three percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Twenty seven percent are overweight. Twelve 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. Nine percent of people living in North Bennington have ever received a blood transfusion. Seven percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Sixteen percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Seven percent have ever been told they had gout. Three percent have coronary heart disease. Two percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Two percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. One percent have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had a stroke. Two percent have ever had emphysema. One percent have ever had chronic bronchitis. One percent of people had any kind of liver condition. Eleven 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 three percent of births in North Bennington were vaginal deliveries. Thirty seven percent of deliveries were cesarean. 99.6 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Fifty one percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Fifty five percent of women breastfeed their children. Sixty three percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Six percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Twenty five percent have ever used Depo-Provera or injectable birth control to prevent pregnancy.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in North Bennington report their general health condition on average at 71 percent. Seven percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 42 percent of North Bennington residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Eight percent of people living in North Bennington are left-handed.

Summary

Consumer Behavior

People in North Bennington spend $369 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 13 percent of their income. The average family in North Bennington spends $78 on food at other stores monthly. This is two percent of their income. They spend $279 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is 10 percent of their income. They also spend $41 monthly on carried out or delivered food. 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 North Bennington report their general condition of hearing on average at 82 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 seven percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Fifteen percent of North Bennington population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty nine 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. Nineteen percent of people in North Bennington 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

Thirty three percent of North Bennington residents 40 and older take a low-dose aspirin each day to prevent heart attacks, strokes or cancer.

Summary

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

Physical Functioning

Seven percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems. Four percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Four percent of people here have health problems that require them to use special equipment, such as a cane, wheelchair, special bed or special telephone.

Summary

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