DEKALB COUNTY, Ga.,None — Health officials say 65 percent of the people who live in one zip code in DeKalb County are obese.
The director of DeKalb County's Board of Health, Sandra Elizabeth Ford, told Channel 2 Action News researchers used a 2010 phone survey to identify the ZIP code.
The ZIP code is 30345. It encompasses parts of Buford Highway and Briarcliff Road.
In the survey, researchers asked DeKalb County residents for their height and weight and then calculated their body mass index to determine the percentages.
"DeKalb was lucky enough to be the only county in Georgia to receive funding from the Affordable Care Act to address obesity, physical activity and nutrition," Ford said.
Ford told Channel 2's Erica Byfield the Health Department will use $2.6 million from a grant from the CDC to develop a "Master Active Living Plan" to fight obesity county wide, especially in the 30345 ZIP code.
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"Historically, public health has been known for doing recipes, health cooking and exercise classes, but this is cutting edge kind of initiative because we’re really trying to change the community," Ford said.
Health leaders believe the obesity rate in the AIP code may have to do something with a lack of sidewalks and suggest a number of residents tend to do their shopping at convenience stores that typically don't sell fresh food.
Art Whitney, who works at a store on Buford Highway, agrees. "There is just no place to walk when you want to get exercise," Whitney said.
Ford told Byfield the planning process should take at least a year. She said after that, it will be up to DeKalb County to come up with the money for infrastructure improvements such as sidewalks and walking paths.