Diabetes Initiative
 
12% of adults in Washington Heights and Inwood have Diabetes, four times as many as in the Upper West Side

Recent reports suggest a worldwide epidemic in terms of obesity and a sedentary lifestyle, with ethnic-minority groups more likely to report sub-optimal levels of physical activity. In Washington Heights and Inwood, 33% of residents age 18 and older reported no physical activity versus only 15% of residents in the adjacent non-minority and affluent Upper West Side. Studies have shown that physical inactivity doubles health risks and adds a disease burden to society comparable with smoking,[1] obesity and hypertension. Hence, it is unsurprising that in the recent NYC-DOHMH Community Health Survey, 12% of adults reported having diabetes - four times as many as in the Upper West Side community.

Impact:

  • We have formed xx “Walking Clubs” in local community based settings in Washington Heights & Inwood (WHI) where 220 adults and elders residents receive bilingual, culturally competent information on exercise and safe local “walking routes.”
  • In hopes of improving community responses to diabetes, we are studying the degree to which our program decreased sedentary behavior and increased the proportion of adults doing at least 30 minutes of exercise at least 3 days per week.
  • NMIC and our partners in this initiative have implemented the principles of community based participatory research (CBPR) that is the current trend for institutions that want to conduct research in the community.

To join a neighborhood walking program, call Maria Lizardo at 212-822-8319 or email