Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Healthy Lifestyle Choices
VW
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Food Preparation
Mastering Food Choices
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancer. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent 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 are largely responsible for the obesity epidemic. As a result, Kentuckians are dying from heart disease and cancer at higher rates than all Americans and they have a lower life expectancy, 75.5 years, compared to 78 years for Americans. The goal of the Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices initiative is to reverse these trends by working with various organizations, agencies, and groups to promote the health and wellness in all Kentuckians by eating more local foods and utilizing healthier cooking methods.
--A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly
--Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
--Improvement in the mental health and wellbeing of Kentuckians
--Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
--Increase the estimated health savings in dollars for chronic disease
--Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns
--Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
--Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating
--Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthens individuals' ability to cope with normal life stressors
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:
--Healthy lifestyle choices
--Childhood and youth obesity
--Adult weight management
--Healthy aging
--Reduction of chronic disease
Initial Outcome: Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Indicator: 37, 38, 39, 46, 47, 48
Method: Program evaluation tools
Timeline: FALL 2019-SPR 2020
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals' ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns
Indicator: 37, 38, 39, 46, 47, 48
Method: Program evaluation tools, follow-up surveys
Timeline: FALL 2019-SPR 2020
Long-term Outcome: Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
Indicator: 37, 38, 39, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48
Method: Follow-up surveys
Timeline: FALL 2019-SPR 2020
Audience: individuals and families, health professionals, KEHA, schools, human and social service agencies, community coalitions & organizations, local government
Project or Activity: Manage Healthy Weight throughout the Lifecycle through Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: LEAP, Plate it up--Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, Local, state, and federal health agencies, USDA, Community and faith-based organizations
Date: FALL 2019-FALL 2020
Audience: individuals and families
Project or Activity: Reduce Chronic Disease Risk and Debilitation and Premature Death by Practicing Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Family Mealtime, Mastering Food Choices
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service agents, program assistants, specialists, and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources, KEHA, Local, state, and federal health agencies, USDA, Community and faith-based organizations
Date: FALL 2019-FALL 2020
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Super Star Chef
According to 2017 data from the State of Obesity website, the current obesity rate for children ages 10-17 in Kentucky is 19.3%. This places Kentucky at third highest in the nation for childhood obesity rates in this age group. In addition, the Marshall County Extension Council identified childhood obesity as a grassroots issue facing the community. Recent research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices, which can lower obesity rates. Last summer
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (general)
The use of social media and videos has become a very important educational tool, especially throughout the coronavirus pandemic. According to Cisco, the worldwide leader in IT, by 2022, videos will make up 82 percent of internet traffic.When face-to-face social interaction came to a screeching halt in March 2020, University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Family & Consumer Sciences administrators, specialists, agents and staff turned to video technology to stay connected with stakeholders
Author: Vicki Wynn
Major Program: Food Preservation
During times of economic downturn, there is an increased interest in home food preservation. More families are experiencing the benefits of home gardening and preserving their harvest. Another advantage of home food preservation is that it allows the ability to control ingredients such as salt and sugar, especially for those who are on restricted diets. University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension provides research-based home food preservation information through a stand
