Our UnitedHealthcare team strives to improve access to health information, wellness programs and preventive care to communities across Iowa. We also recognize that overall health goes beyond medical care, and that social factors such as housing, food and employment have a substantial impact on health. To impact overall health we partner with a wide range of community organizations to a unified cause: improving the health and well-being of Iowans.
Partnership with the Ottumwa YMCA
Children are frequently not getting enough physical activity at home, in schools and in their communities. In fact, only one in four kids in the U.S. are getting the recommended daily amount of physical activity1.
Among children in Iowa aged 2 years to less than 5 years, 17.2% were overweight and 14.7% were obese.
For 15 million kids living in poverty in the United States2, physical activity can be even more challenging to come by, as they may face additional obstacles, including a lack of access to safe places, outdated or broken equipment, and too much screen time.
Among children in Iowa aged 2 years to less than 5 years, 17.2% were overweight and 14.7% were obese3. Obesity in adults has increased 10% from 29.0% to 32.0% in the last five years4. Research indicates that overweight children are more prone to becoming overweight adults5, but introducing physical activity at a young age can prevent that.
To help encourage better childhood health through physical activity, UnitedHealthcare partnered with the Ottumwa YMCA to fund and build a new, fully inclusive playground featuring equipment and surfaces accessible to all children, including those with disabilities. 50 UnitedHealthcare employees participated in erecting the playground.
Charitable efforts like this are part of a longstanding effort to partner with organizations making a difference at the local level, and help Iowans live healthier lives.
Additional 2017 UnitedHealthcare community investments in Iowans included:
- Focus on Education: $75,000
- Improving Maternal Outcomes: $30,000
- Homelessness Case Management: $30,000
- Supporting Physical Fitness: $25,000
- General Community Support: $20,000
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References
1. Physical Activity Basics, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/
2. Child Poverty, National Center for Children in Poverty, www.nccp.org/topics/childpoverty
3. CDC. Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao
4. America’s Health Rankings 2017, https://www.americashealthrankings.org
5. The Early Care and Education State Indicator Report, https://www.cdc.gov/obesity/strategies/ece-state-indicator-report
