Background

Grow Healthy Together Chattanooga (GHTC) will focus on the East and South side communities of Chattanooga. Together, these communities comprise a large, contiguous district of more than ten individual neighborhoods and a population of approximately 33,000.

Health indicators within these neighborhoods are troubling. In 2004, Hamilton County conducted a Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS) with the aim of determining the extent of various health risks within the community. According to this data, 71% percent of Chattanooga’s East and South side population were overweight or obese. Hypertension affected 43.2% of residents, and high blood cholesterol affects 42.7%. Nearly 30% were physically inactive and only 21.9% consumed five or more servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Nearly 15% suffered from diabetes.

Organizational Partners