Illinoisans need some shaping up

Another decade is drawing to a close, giving us all an opportunity to reflect on the past and make plans for the future. As we say goodbye to 2010, remember that no year — let alone a decade — would be complete without a visit to your doctor for a regular checkup. Speaking of which, I'd like to take this opportunity to give Illinois a checkup. A lot has happened in our state in the last 10 years, and it's time to take a look at where we've been and where we're headed with the help of some statistics from the Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

First, the bad news: Like most Americans, we Illinoisans are getting bigger. That means we have some work to do, as 37.3 percent of Illinois adults have high cholesterol (compared with 29.6 percent in 2000) and 26.8 percent are obese (up from 20.7 percent in 2000 and 10.9 percent in 1990).

In addition, fewer people in our state report leading an active lifestyle. These numbers point to higher costs and decreased access to care in the future, as there will be more patients in need of care and not enough doctors to provide it.

There is some good news, though, especially for our kids. Teenage pregnancy is down significantly, and so is infant mortality. More kids are getting their immunizations. Smoking rates are also down, for the 21st year in a row.

In short, I'm giving Illinois the same advice I often give my own patients: We need to eat better and exercise more, but there are plenty of reasons to say “keep up the good work.” Happy New Year!

Steven M. Malkin, M.D., FACP

President

Illinois State Medical Society

Chicago