Despite programs that promote healthy eating and regular exercise, new research indicates residents living inside the Desert Healthcare District aren't much healthier than the rest of the Coachella Valley. The figures, compiled by the Health Assessment Resource Center, caught many of the healthcare district's board members by surprise. Officials said they had expected to see clearer contrasts and improvements in statistics that measure everything from the prevalence of cancer to the rates of childhood obesity. In some health benchmarks, including one measuring the rates of heart disease, the district actually fared worse than the rest of the desert.
