Health and Nutrition of Barre, MA Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty five percent of Barre residents report that their diet is generally healthy. People here have milk to drink or on their cereal 19 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 four 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 two 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 Barre resident last visited a dentist two years ago (including all types of dentists, such as, orthodontists, oral surgeons, and all other dental specialists, as well as dental hygienists). Seventeen percent of people living here 30 years of age and older, are embarrassed because of their teeth, mouth or dentures. Twenty one percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Barre residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 49 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 28 teeth.

Summary

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

Weight

The average height of Barre residents 16 years and older is 62 inches. The average weight is 165 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 28. Thirty eight percent of people living here are obese. Forty nine percent have ever been obese. Forty nine percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

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

Drug Use

Fifty three percent of Barre residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Fifteen percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Thirteen percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Six percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Forty one percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years.

Summary

Kidney Conditions-Urology

Barre 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

Five percent of Barre 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. Four percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Fifty one percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Twenty percent have ever had their tonsils removed. Thirteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Nineteen 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

Sixty percent of people living in Barre are covered by health insurance or some other kind of health care plan.

Summary

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

Blood Pressure & Cholesterol

Twenty one percent of people in Barre frequently check their blood cholesterol.

Summary

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

Dermatology

Thirty two percent of people living in Barre use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Twenty six percent of Barre residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Twenty seven percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Thirty seven percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Forty three percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Thirty two percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Twenty one percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Sixteen percent have trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching TV. Thirteen 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. Five percent have thoughts that they would be better off dead or of hurting themselves in some way.

Summary

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

Alcohol use

Seventy three percent of people living in Barre have at least one alcoholic drink per month. Thirteen percent of people living here do not drink alcohol at all. People living here drink alcohol 3.0 days per month on average. They have 3.2 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 12 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety eight percent of Barre residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Eighty three percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Seventy two percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Forty six percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Sixteen percent of males in Barre have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. Ninety six percent of females have ever had vaginal sex with a man. Seventy eight percent have ever performed oral sex on a man. Forty three percent have ever had anal sex. Six percent of females have ever had any kind of sex with a woman. People in Barre were 17 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. The average man in his lifetime had any kind of sex with 12 women. He has vaginal sex with 12 women. People living here were on average 21 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. Males in their lifetime have anal or oral sex with 1.7 men on average. They have had 0.9 anal sex partners in their lifetime. People in Barre were 20 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. Thirteen percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Barre has vaginal or anal sex 69 times a year. Forty five percent have sex without using a condom. Females in Barre 18 years and older have had any kind of sex with four men on average. They have had four male vaginal sex partners in their lifetimes. Women here have on average 0.7 female sex partners in their lifetimes. Forty one 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

Twelve percent of households in Barre use chemical products in their homes to control fleas, roaches, ants, termites or other insects.

Summary

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

Sleep Disorders

Barre residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays. Seventeen percent of them have trouble sleeping.

Summary

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

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Forty three percent of Barre residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

Physical Activity

Eighteen percent of Barre 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. Thirty three 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 percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Twenty six 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. Forty six 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 six 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 Barre residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. Three percent of people living here has anemia, sometimes called "tired blood" or "low blood". Two percent of people 16 years and older have ever been told by a doctor or other health care professional that they had psoriasis. Twenty nine percent are overweight. Fifteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. Nine percent of people 20 and older have arthritis. Three percent have another thyroid problem. One percent of people had any kind of liver condition.

Summary

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

Reproductive Health

Forty six percent of births in Barre were vaginal deliveries. Fifty four percent of deliveries were cesarean. 98.0 percent of deliveries resulted in live births. Sixty three percent of pregnancies resulted in a delivery. Eighty two percent of women breastfeed their children. Sixty five percent have ever taken birth control pills for any reason. Eight percent of women are currently taking birth control pills. Thirty one 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 Barre report their general health condition on average at 59 percent. Eight percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 37 percent of Barre residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Six percent of people living in Barre are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Barre spend $395 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 22 percent of their income. The average family in Barre spends $102 on food at other stores monthly. This is six percent of their income. They spend $151 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is six percent of their income. They also spend $23 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 Barre report their general condition of hearing on average at 86 percent. Ninety three 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 nine percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Seven percent of Barre population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Twenty seven 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. Eleven percent of people in Barre 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

Ten percent of Barre 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 of Barre residents 20 or older have limitations caused by a long-term physical, mental or emotional problems or illnesses keeping them from working at a job or business. Eight percent are limited in the kind or amount of work they can do because of physical, mental or emotional problems.

Summary

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