The Florida Department of Health works each day to protect, promote and improve the health of Floridians and visitors to the state. Our vision is to be the healthiest state in the nation. As such, Dr. Armstrong is hosting symposia across the state to inspire community-level conversation regarding important topics to improve the health of people in Florida.

On Friday, November 22, 2013, the Department held the Florida Health Symposium on Rural Health in Florida at the Hilton Conference Center in Gainesville. The event coincided with the conclusion of the Florida Rural Health Association’s Annual Summit.

The symposium focused on how to improve the health of people living in rural areas of Florida, including a discussion of how this population may achieve the healthiest weight in homes, schools, the community and the workplace.

In Florida, one in four high schoolers and 65 percent of adults are overweight or obese. This unhealthy weight leads to a higher risk of chronic illnesses and conditions, such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, cancer and arthritis. The issue is complex and it will take the combined efforts of communities, work sites, schools, clinical partners and stakeholders to be successful.

The overall question addressed during the symposium was: How do we address the special concerns of Florida’s rural communities while focusing on helping people achieve their healthiest weight?

ICYMI: Checkout footage from the Florida Health Symposium on Rural Health in Florida.