CHENANGO COUNTY – Each March, National Nutrition Month is celebrated to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound habits. Small changes to your daily eating or drinking habits can make a positive difference to your health. The Chenango County Health Department 2019 health campaign encourages you to “Rethink Your Drink, Chenango: Drink Water.”

Drinking water is important for overall health and well-being. It is a simple change that anyone can make in their daily lives that can greatly change overall health for the better.

Heart Disease is the number one cause of premature death in Chenango County, ranking #1 in NY State. Four out of ten adults living in Chenango County are obese. This high incidence of obesity directly affects health outcomes such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Chenango County ranks #4 for its rate of hospitalization with diabetes as primary diagnoses. 35% of our residents suffer from high blood pressure. Three out of five children are affected by tooth decay. The numbers tell us that we have a lot of work to do to achieve better health.

Drinking water can reduce your risk for the following conditions: Obesity, Dental Caries, Heart Disease, Stroke, Type 2 Diabetes, Liver Disease, and Kidney Disease.