Health and Community Concerns

1. Obesity
 Through use of resources and the conduction of a windshield survey, child
obesity (adolescents) was identified as a major health concern within the
Concord community. By observing students in the school systems and in the
community, the prevalence of obese children is on the rise. The problem exist
because obesity leads to an increase risk of heart disease (i.e. high cholesterol,
coronary artery disease, and hypertension), juvenile diabetes, and an overall
increase morbidity and mortality rate later in life.

2. Teen pregnancy
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3. Smoking
 Speaking with adolescents in the school setting, many admit to the use of
tobacco products on a consistent basis. Various reasons exist for the use of
tobacco products such as social acceptance, stress relief, and rebellion. Students
arrived at school with the smell of smoke on their clothing. Although the
students may not participated in the act of first hand smoke, exposure to second
hand smoke existed (however, many students admitted to the school nurse they
had smoke prior to school starting). A school nurse meeting attended through
the Cabarrus County Health Alliance addressed the Tobacco Reality Unfiltered
(TRU) campaign targeting teenagers on the benefits of quitting the habit.