North Carolina Voices: Diagnosing Health Care

North Carolina is not healthy. The state is ranked 36th in the nation in terms of health. One in four North Carolinians is obese, up from 13 percent in 1990, making obesity not just a personal health concern, but a public health epidemic. Diabetes is on the rise, particularly in rural areas. There are wide disparities in lifespan: A white girl born in North Carolina can expect to live until she is nearly 80 years old, but a black boy, statistically, will only make it to 68 - and he is likely to be sick for 15 years of his life. More than 16 percent of North Carolinians have no health insurance, and those who do not have insurance tend to be sicker than those who do. In addition to the physical and emotional toll, unhealthy lifestyles are costing North Carolina an estimated $24 billion a year.
Why is North Carolina so unhealthy? What is being done about it? And what are the links between health, and the health care system? Listen for "North Carolina Voices: Diagnosing Health Care" is airing now through October 16th. You can get links to all the audio of this series in our Broadcast Schedule.