Montgomery County CES

Title:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

MAP:

Nutrition, Health, and Well-Being

Agents Involved:

Mayrand, Comer, Hamilton

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Weight the Reality Series

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Get Moving Kentucky (Physical Activity Based Programs)

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Situation:

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. Minorities and individuals residing in Appalachia bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden. 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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

•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 built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating
•Improvement in the mental health and well-being 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.
•Increase policies that address obesity, physical inactivity and promotion of poor nutrition

Intermediate Outcomes:

•Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
•Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age
•Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
•Community members advocate for policy
•Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating.
•Strengthen community coalitions or partnerships to address obesity, physical inactivity and chronic disease.
•Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.

Initial Outcomes:

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
•Practice and promotion of daily physical activity
•Policies that that reduce the level of obesity
•Reduction of chronic disease

Evaluation:

Outcome: Participants will increase physical activity and consumption of fruits and veggies
Indicator: Number of individuals who make lifestyle changes to improve personal health
Method: Pre-post surveys, online surveys, number of people visiting Farmer’s Markets, activity logs
Timeline: Beginning and End of Program

Outcome: Participants will decrease the number of times they abuse drugs and alcohol
Indicator: Number of individuals who reduce drug/alcohol use as well as number of individuals who utilize resources
Method: Pre-post surveys, online surveys
Timeline: Beginning and End of Programs

Outcome: Participants will experience weight loss
Indicator: Scales at extension office
Method: Weekly Weigh-Ins
Timeline: Beginning and End of Programs – 8-10 week period

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: physical activity promotion
Content or Curriculum: LEAP
Inputs: Agents, CES publications and resources, Health Department
Date: Fall, Spring

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: drug awareness
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences
Inputs: Agents, CES publications and resources, eXtension, HEEL, Health Department, School System
Date: Fall, Late Spring

Audience: General public-farmers market customers
Project or Activity: Plate It Up! Ky Proud- Tuesdays at the Market
Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up
Inputs: recipe cards, facilitator guides, press releases, local resources, volunteers, paid staff, extension facilities, farmers market vendors
Date: July-June

Audience: General public
Project or Activity: Summer Food and Fun
Content or Curriculum: EFNEP, SNAP, other as needed
Inputs: press releases, local resources, volunteers, paid staff, church facilities
Date: June-July

Audience: General public
Project or Activity: Montgomery County Weight the Reality
Content or Curriculum: Weight the Reality
Inputs: Wellness Coalition, volunteers, paid staff, Coalition and Extension resources
Date: 9 week series-July-August

Success Stories