Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Families & Community
Developing Strong, Healthy and Safe Families
Whitis, Fugate
Get Moving Kentucky (Physical Activity Based Programs)
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Taking Ownership of Your Diabetes Program (Curriculum)
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities (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. 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. McCreary County residents rank near the bottom in overall health, 12.5 % of adults have diabetes, 39.1% are regular smokers, 39% are obese and 38.1% are physically inactive.
•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 well-being of people in McCreary County.
•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.
•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
•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.
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
•Reduction of chronic disease
Outcome: McCreary County families will adopt healthy diets, practice safe food handling practices, and increase physical activity.
Indicator: Number of youth and adults who demonstrate informed and effective decision making. Number of individuals adopting one or more practices to increase physical activity or incorporate healthy eating into their lifestyle. Number of persons reporting changes in knowledge, opinions, skills, or aspirations related to physical activity or healthy eating. Number of youth and adults demonstrating improve lifestyle choices. Number who gain knowledge and skills or implement recommended practices in storage, handling and preparation of food or food preservation.
Method: Observations, evaluations (pre & post tests), follow up questionnaires
Timeline:July -June
Audience: Youth, adults, families
Project or Activity: Hiking program with youth and Adults
Content or Curriculum: The great outdoors, trail accessibility for visual, hearing, mobility impaired individuals. Family/kid friendly hikes.
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, EFNEP/SNAP-Ed Assistants, Community Volunteers, Extension Leadership specialists and associates, Community partners.
Date: September -June
Audience: Youth, adults, families
Content or Curriculum: Adult and Youth SNAP-Ed Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, EFNEP/SNAP-Ed Assistants, Community Volunteers, Extension Leadership specialists and associates, Community partners.
Date: July -June
Audience: Adults, families
Content or Curriculum: Embracing Life as we Age
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, SNAP-Ed Assistant, Community Volunteers, Extension Leadership specialists and associates, Community partners.
Date: July -June
Audience: Youth, adults, families
Project or Activity: Community Programs on Diet and Health
Content or Curriculum: WIN in KY (4-H school Enrichment), Weight the Reality Series, Walking for Health, Get Moving McCreary County, Healthy Choices Newsletter, and other UK publications/programs
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, EFNEP/SNAP-Ed Assistants, Community Volunteers, Extension Leadership specialists and associates, Community partners.
Date: July -June
Author: Gregory Whitis
Major Program: Get Moving Kentucky (Physical Activity Based Programs)
Hike McCreary CountyImportance: In a recent health related report McCreary County was in the top tier of health related problems such as diabetes (18% of population), smoking (33.1%, highest in the state), hypertension rate is 52% of adult population, heart related issues (heart disease deaths are 30% than state average), and weight related issues (32% of adults are obese. These reports state that a number of these health related problems are directly related to lack of exercise. Educ
