This fourth segment, focusing on obesity, is part of an eight-part series on health disparities in the Pittsburgh region. These articles are the result of a collaboration among the New Pittsburgh Courier, Community PARTners (a core service of the University of Pittsburgh’s Clinical and Translational Science Institute—CTSI) and the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh. Pitt School of Medicine assistant professor Michael Yonas, DrPH, sat down with Esther Bush, president and CEO of the Urban League, to discuss this month’s focus on obesity among African Americans in Allegheny County.

ESTHER BUSH

MY: From working together, I know that the issue of increasing rates of disparities in obesity and health of African Americans is so important to you. Can you share with me why?

(ARA)—With age comes the inevitable anxiety of mental decline. A common misconception is brain health is predetermined and can’t be changed—it’s the “you’re stuck with what you got” notion. But experts suggest brain health can be positively influenced throughout different stages in life.

A recent state-by-state ranking, America’s Brain Health Index, delivers data on how well Americans are successfully incorporating the four dimensions of brain health—diet and nutrition, physical health, mental health and social well-being—into their daily lives.

AGE IS JUST A NUMBER—Engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day to encourage new brain cells and connections to form.

The top-ranked state—Maryland—scored highest on the Index because of residents’ performance on a number of health markers, including high consumption of fish rich in DHA and DHA-fortified foods and supplements, as well as a low incidence of Alz­heimer’s disease-related deaths. Residents of the states that ranked the lowest (Mississippi and Louisiana) can make adjustments to help get their brains in shape. See where your state ranked at www.beautiful-minds.com.

In 2010, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported the following:

•One-third of American adults are obese—meaning they are not only overweight, but they have a body mass index (BMI) higher than 30 (see Resources for more definitions and information).

• In 1991, no U.S. state had obesity rates at or above 20 percent. By 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity below 20 percent, and 36 states had a prevalence of 25 percent or more. Twelve of those states had a prevalence of 30 percent or more.

•As of 2008, 27.1 percent of adults in Allegheny County were obese.

•Non-Hispanic African Americans have the highest rates of obesity.

WASHINGTON (AP)—Medicare says seniors with high prescription costs have saved more than $1 billion thanks to the new health care law.

President Barack Obama’s health care overhaul provides Medicare recipients in the coverage gap called the “doughnut hole” with a 50 percent discount on brand-name drugs this year, and a smaller break on generics. The discounts gradually increase until the coverage gap closes in 2020.