American Heart Association Advocacy in Mississippi

Along with regular exercise, weight management, and not smoking, a healthy diet is proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and other chronic diseases and conditions. However, access to healthy foods is a problem for those living in low income urban areas where supermarkets have closed, and in so-called “food desert” communities that are far from larger stores offering affordable fruits and vegetables. In 2011, the American Heart Association worked to create an advisory committee that will study food deserts in Mississippi. (House Bill 1170)

Along with regular exercise, weight management, and not smoking, a healthy diet is proven to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke and other chronic diseases and conditions. However, access to healthy foods is a problem for those living in low income urban areas where supermarkets have closed, and in so-called “food desert” communities that are far from larger stores offering affordable fruits and vegetables. In 2011, the American Heart Association worked to create an advisory committee that will study food deserts in Mississippi. (House Bill 1170)

Since 2001, forty-three (43) Mississippi municipalities have passed 100% comprehensive smoke-free laws. Most notably, seven of them were passed in 2010, which gained national attention from Americans for Non-Smokers Rights.

In 2009, the American Heart Association worked hard to raise the state's cigarette tax from 18 cents to 68 cents. The 50-cent increase is a win-win-win solution for Mississippi — a health win that will reduce tobacco use and save lives, a financial win that will raise much-needed revenue and reduce tobacco-caused health care costs, and a political win that is popular with voters. This was the first increase in the state’s cigarette tax since 1984. (House Bill 364)

In 2007, the Mississippi Healthy Students Act was signed into law. This act sets physical education and nutrition standards for grades K-12 equal to and above those set at the national level.