Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Physical Activity
Healthy Homes, Families, and Communities
Allen, Flynt, Redmon
Health
Building Healthy Coalitions
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
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 is currently 34.3%. 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.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), moderate-intensity level activity for 2.5 hours each week can reduce the risk for obesity, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, heart disease, stroke, depression, colon cancer and premature death. The CDC considers gardening a moderate-intensity level activity and can help individuals to achieve that 2.5-hour goal each week. Additionally, those that choose gardening as their moderate-intensity exercise are more likely to exercise 40-50 minutes longer on average than those that choose activities like walking or biking. By venturing outdoors to private and community gardens, individuals assist in keeping their community vital, as well as improving their own health and well-being.
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 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.
Increase policies that address obesity, physical inactivity and promotion of poor nutrition
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.
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
Initial Outcome: Individuals will become more aware of skills needed to make informed choices regarding health.
Indicator: Distribution of knowledge
Method: newsletters, social media posts, workshops, training
Timeline: year round
Intermediate Outcome: Clients will become more physically active,
Indicator: participation in physical activity,grow their own fruit and vegetables
Method: second Sunday event, get moving curriculum, community gardening,
Timeline: year round
Long-term Outcome: Clients will have improved their overall health.
Indicator: reduced instances of obesity, reduced chronic disease occurrences, more physical activity participation
Method: get moving curriculum, newsletters, social media posts, publications, trainings and workshops, Second Sunday event
Timeline: Year round
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H after school Cooking
Content or Curriculum: myplate
Inputs: materials, staff, curriculum, partners
Date: year round
Audience: General public and youth
Project or Activity: health fairs and screening events
Content or Curriculum: myplate, embracing aging
Inputs: Alzheimer's association, National Kidney Foundation, local health department, publications, materials, supplies
Date: Year round
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Adventure program
Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources Curriculum, Master Naturalist program
Inputs: Curriculum, State Parks, National Parks, County Agent, Department of Forestry, Department of Fish & Wildlife
Date: Monthly
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Gardening
Content or Curriculum: Basic Gardening, Master Gardener Curriculum, Community Gardens
Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Dinner Theater
Content or Curriculum: Mental Health Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials
Date: Winter
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Physical Activity Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials
Date: Monthly
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Community Garden
Content or Curriculum: Basic Gardening, Master Gardener Curriculum,
Inputs: Staff, Curriculum, Materials
Date: Spring, Summer, Fall
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Wellness with Chronic Illness
Content: Diabetes Prevention Program/FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Staff, FCS resources, myplate, embracing aging
Date: Weekly, monthly after the first 18 weeks
