Health and Nutrition of Mercer, MO Residents

Diet Behavior & Nutrition

Forty percent of Mercer 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 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 three of these meals from a fast-food or pizza place. People here eat three "ready to eat" foods such as salads, soups, chicken, sandwiches and cooked vegetables per month.

Summary

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

Oral Health

The average Mercer 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). Thirty percent think they might have gum disease (might have swollen gums, receding gums, sore or infected gums or loose teeth). Mercer residents rate the overall health of their teeth and gums on average at 46 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 Mercer residents 16 years and older is 67 inches. The average weight is 188 pounds. Their average BMI (Body Mass Index) is 29. Forty six percent of people living here are obese. Sixty two percent have ever been obese. Thirty seven percent have ever tried to lose weight.

Summary

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

Drug Use

Thirty nine percent of Mercer residents have ever used marijuana or hashish. Twenty percent of people living here have ever used cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin or methamphetamine. Twenty percent have ever used any form of cocaine, such as powder, 'crack', 'free base', and coca paste. Eleven percent have ever used methamphetamines.

Summary

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

Diabetes

Six percent of people living in Mercer have ever been told by a doctor or health professional that they have diabetes. Fifty percent of people had a blood test for high sugar or diabetes within the past three years. Five percent of city residents are currently taking insulin.

Summary

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

Kidney Conditions-Urology

Mercer 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

Ten percent of Mercer 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. Seven percent have been having problems with their ability to taste sweet, sour, salty or bitter foods and drinks. Forty nine percent of people above the age of 40 have ever had wisdom teeth removed. Eighteen percent have lost consciousness because of a head injury. Thirty percent have ever had a broken nose or other serious injury to face or skull. Twenty 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

Fifty three percent of people living in Mercer 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

Twelve percent of people living in Mercer have been ever told by a doctor or other health professional that they had hypertension (also called high blood pressure). Ten percent of people take their blood pressure at home. Twenty eight percent of people in Mercer frequently check their blood cholesterol. Seventeen 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

Thirty two percent of people living in Mercer use sunscreen.

Summary

Mental Health

Twenty four percent of Mercer residents 18 years old and older have usually little interest or pleasure in doing things. Sixteen percent often feel down, depressed, or hopeless. Thirty two percent of people living here have trouble falling or staying asleep, or sleep too much. Thirty eight percent of people often feel tired or have little energy. Sixteen percent are bothered by poor appetite or overeating. Fourteen percent often feel badly about themselves, that they are a failure or have let themselves or their families down. Twenty three 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.

Prescription Medications

Mercer residents on average take one 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 Mercer have at least one alcoholic drink per month. People living here drink alcohol 2.9 days per month on average. They have 3.3 drinks per week. On average people living here have 5 or more drinks on 14 days a year.

Summary

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

Sexual Behavior

Ninety nine percent of Mercer residents 18 years and older have ever had vaginal, anal or oral sex. Ninety nine percent of males have ever had vaginal sex with a woman. Ninety seven percent have ever performed oral sex on a woman. Sixty five percent have ever had anal sex with a woman. Six percent of males in Mercer have ever had any kind of sex with a man, including oral or anal. People in Mercer were 16 years old on average when they had sex for the first time. People living here were on average 20 years old when they first performed oral sex on a woman. People in Mercer were 20 years old on average when they first performed oral sex on a man. Nine percent of people use protection, like a condom or dental dam, while performing oral sex. The average person in Mercer has vaginal or anal sex 65 times a year. Thirty three percent have sex without using a condom. Forty 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

Fifteen percent of households in Mercer 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

Mercer residents 16 years and older usually get seven hours of sleep at night on weekdays or workdays.

Summary

Smoking-Cigarette Use

Thirty two percent of Mercer residents currently smoke cigarettes.

Summary

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

Physical Activity

Forty two percent of Mercer 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. Forty seven 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. Eighteen percent walk or bicycle for at least 10 minutes continuously to get to and from places. Thirty nine 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. Fifty two 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 five 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 0.8 hours per day.

Summary

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

Medical Conditions

Four percent of Mercer residents have ever been told by a doctor or other health professional that they had asthma. 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 six percent are overweight. Nineteen percent have trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses or contact lenses. One percent have angina, also called angina pectoris. Four percent have ever had a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction. Six percent of people had any kind of liver condition.

Summary

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

Current Health Status

People living in Mercer report their general health condition on average at 58 percent. Four percent of them donate blood. Excluding tests they have had as part of blood donations, 41 percent of Mercer residents have ever had their blood tested for the AIDS virus infection. Four percent of people living in Mercer are left-handed.

Summary

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

Consumer Behavior

People in Mercer spend $436 per month on average on food for their families at supermarkets or grocery stores. This is 16 percent of their income. The average family in Mercer spends $139 on food at other stores monthly. This is five percent of their income. They spend $227 on eating out, including cafeterias at work or at school or on vending machines. This is 13 percent of their income. They also spend $35 monthly on carried out or delivered food. This is two percent of their income.

Summary

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

Audiometry

People living in Mercer report their general condition of hearing on average at 83 percent. Eighty 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 four percent of people can hear a normal voice across a quiet room. Eleven percent of Mercer population have been bothered by ringing, roaring or buzzing in their ears or head. Sixty 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. Six percent of people in Mercer 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

Eleven percent of Mercer 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 Mercer 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. Five percent have difficulty walking without using any special equipment. Nine percent are limited in any way because of difficulty remembering or because they experience periods of confusion.

Summary

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