Carmel Rotary President Doug Willard presents books to Dr. Lindsay Weaver to sign for distribution to Carmel grade schools. (Photo provided by Rotary Club of Carmel)
Dr. Weaver: Hamilton Co. has lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy
By DUBBIE BUCKLER
Carmel Rotary Club Board Secretary
Dr. Lindsay Weaver, State Health Commissioner for the Indiana Department of Health (IDH), addressed the Carmel Rotary Club last week and shared information about significant health concerns facing Indiana.
Weaver began her presentation sharing the IDH’s mission to promote, protect, and improve the health and safety of all Hoosiers, and envisioning optimal health for every Hoosier regardless of where they live, learn, work, or play.
Dr. Weaver reviewed the state’s plan to improve Hoosiers’ health and reduce obesity and chronic disease through prevention and healthier choices, includes the key focus areas of a) promoting healthier food access; b) raising consumer awareness with clearer and more informative labeling; c) promoting school wellness and fitness testing; d) expanding access to fresh, local food; and e) evaluating state programs to determine return on the state’s investment in its health initiatives.
Dr. Weaver stated that a key to achieving a healthier Indiana is to connect state government, communities, schools, healthcare providers, and private partners in a unified effort.
Dr. Weaver remarked that key factors underlying the IDH’s plan are obesity and tobacco use. She reported that obesity among Hoosiers has continued to increase over the past 25 years, contributing to major health problems including heart disease and diabetes.
Dr. Lindsay Weaver discusses the rise in Indiana’s obesity rate. (Photo provided by Rotary Club of Carmel)
Regarding tobacco use among Indiana residents, Dr. Weaver shared some hopeful news, reporting that per the 2024 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey, high school tobacco use is at its lowest levels in two decades, and e-cigarette usage has dropped to 5 percent, down from a peak of 18.5 percent in 2018. However, she shared that flavored tobacco products and the rising popularity of oral nicotine pouches pose serious health risks to teens and on into adulthood.
She also shared the state’s grave concern about the number of women in the state who smoke during pregnancy. While Indiana’s overall rate of smoking during pregnancy has dropped slightly from about 9 percent to under 7 percent, that’s close to double the national rate of smoking during pregnancy. Dr. Weaver commended Hamilton County with a smoking during pregnancy rate of well under 1 percent. She compared Hamilton County’s low rate to Crawford County’s high rate that is greater than 20 percent, adding that 60 percent of Indiana counties have smoking while pregnant rates that are higher than the statewide average.
Board certified in both emergency medicine and hospice and palliative care medicine, Dr. Weaver is also an Assistant Professor of Clinical Emergency Medicine at the Indiana University School of Medicine and still practices emergency medicine at Methodist Hospital one night a week. She joined IDH as Chief Medical Officer in 2020. She was first appointed State Health Commissioner by Governor Eric Holcomb and re-appointed by Governor Mike Braun. She also served as president of the Indiana Chapter of the American College of Emergency Medicine Physicians.
Following her presentation, Dr. Weaver answered many questions about health issues from Carmel Rotarians. Carmel Rotary Club President Doug Willard then presented books about “Milo the Doctor” for her to sign, which Carmel Rotary then donates to Carmel elementary school libraries.
About the Rotary Club of Carmel
The Rotary Club of Carmel, founded in 1972, regularly contributes to local community projects including the Merciful H.E.L.P. Center, Crooked Creek Food Pantry, Meals on Wheels, Carmel Summer Lunch Program, Trinity Free Clinic, and many others. Carmel Rotary’s youth outreach includes Leadership Connection, a leadership skills development and scholarship program for Carmel area high school students; Interact, a Rotary-sponsored service club for youth ages 12 to 18; and the Youth Exchange Program, hosting high school students from abroad and sponsoring Carmel area outbound high school students to countries around the globe.
Carmel Rotary is proud to present and provide the leadership for CarmelFest, Carmel’s annual 4th of July parade and celebration. Carmel Rotary is also involved in global service projects within the major focus areas of: Peace and conflict prevention/resolution; Disease prevention and treatment; Water and sanitation, Maternal and child health; Basic education and literacy, and Economic and community development.
The longstanding primary goal of Rotary International is the eradication of polio from the face of the earth. For more information visit CarmelRotary.com.
