Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Health Through Diet and Physical Activity
Making Healthy Life Style Choices
Valerie Stewart, Kendyl Redding
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
4-H Leadership Core Curriculum
4-H Youth Development Programming
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality of life and longevity of many Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90% over the last 15 years. Thirty percent of individuals in the Commonwealth report no leisure-time physical activity. Increased consumption of unhealthy food, stress, and built environments that promote physical inactivity and lack of healthcare are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic and are contributing factors to the unhealthy status of our county. Over 25% of the residents live at or below the poverty level and 72% of students are on free or reduced lunches.
Residents will increase the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating. Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension.
Residents will practice healthy food choices and increase ability to build healthy eating patterns and have regular health care screenings. Residents will better utilize food stamps, WIC vouchers, FMNP vouchers and commodity foods.
Residents will change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices, healthy eating, healthy weight, healthy aging, physical activity and improving their overall health.
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Consumers increase purchase of healthier foods.
Method: Farmers Market & other Surveys
Timeline: Year long
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: More participants in health screenings and utilization of WIC vouchers and FMNP vouchers.
Method: Surveys and redemption rates
Timeline: Year long
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Decrease in occurrence of chronic diseases
Method: County statistics
Timeline: Year long
Audience: Homemakers and General Public
Project or Activity: Diabetes Workshops
Content or Curriculum: FCS Programs and Publications
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers, Powell County Health Department
Date: Year long
Audience: Adults, Youth
Project or Activity: Eating Smart & Healthy
Content or Curriculum: FCS Program & Publications, 4-H Health Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers, Teachers
Date: Year Long
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Physical Activity
Content or Curriculum: FCS Programs & Publications & 4-H Health Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers, Teachers
Date: Year Long
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Know Your Numbers
Content or Curriculum: FCS Program and Publications
Inputs: Extension Agents & Volunteers
Date: January 2019
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Holiday Foods
Content or Curriculum: FCS Program and Publications
Inputs: Extension Agents & Volunteers
Date: November 2018
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Farmers Market Outreach Program
Content or Curriculum: KDA, FCS publications
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers
Date: Summer 2019
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Health Fair
Content or Curriculum: Diabetes, Plate It Up, Heart Health, SNAP-ED Resources
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers, Community Health Care Professionals
Date: April 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Farm Safety Day; Environmental Camp; 4-H Shooting Sports activities; 4-H Cloverbud Program
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum; Professor Popcorn; Fantastic Foods; KDA; Progressive Ag Foundation
Inputs: Progressive Ag Foundation; KDA, Extension Agents, Volunteers
Date: Year long
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: Physical Activity, 4-H Health Curriculum, SNAP-ED Resources
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers
Date: Summer, 2019
Author: Kendyl Redding
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
According to the National Survey of Children’s Health, Kentucky is ranked the third highest state for childhood obesity with 20.8% of youth ages 10 to 17 being obese. The overall increase in obesity is a result of behaviors that influence excess weight gain including poor diet, lack of physical activity, and sedentary activities such as watching television or other screen devices. However, community can also influence the ability to make healthy choices. It can be difficult for parents and
