Developing Individual Health and Well-Being
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Rachel Hance
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 cancers. 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.
Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating
Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:
Healthy lifestyle choices
Adult weight management
Practice and promotion of daily physical activity
Initial Outcome: Change in awareness, knowledge, opinions, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding:
Healthy lifestyle choices
Adult weight management
Practice and promotion of daily physical activity
Indicator: Individuals will show more knowledge and a more positive attitude toward making healthier lifestyle choices including more physical activity and healthier eating habits
Method: Survey and verbal question/answer session
Timeline: At end of program
Intermediate Outcome: Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating
Indicator: Individuals will show more involvement in physical activity and incorporating healthy eating choices into their diets
Method: Mail out or email survey
Timeline: 3-6 weeks following program
Long-term Outcome: Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
Indicator: Individuals will show more involvement in physical activity and incorporating healthy eating choices into their diets daily
Method: Mail out or email follow up survey
Timeline: 8-10 weeks following program
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Fit Blue
Content or Curriculum: UK publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers; Kentucky CES publications and resources, United States Department of Agriculture
Date: 2019-2020Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Clean and Healthy Homes Homemaker Leader Training
Content or Curriculum: UK publications and resources
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers; Kentucky CES publications and resources, United States Department of Agriculture
Date: Spring 2020
Author: Rachel Hance
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Children are our future. They, like everyone else, need access to health care, education and nutrition essential for appropriate growth and development. Unfortunately, not all children have these benefits. Many children go to school every day hungry and return home to face the same circumstances.In the United States, nearly 13 million children face hunger every day. According to “Map the Meal Gap Study” released by Feeding America in 2018, there are over 6,00