Extension
It Starts With Us
Making Healthy Choices
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Mary Beth Riley
Leadership
Family and Consumer Science
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Research shows that healthy body weight and regular physical activity are critically important to overall health and well-being both during childhood and later in life. According to reports from the Centers for Disease Control, overweight adolscents have a 70% chance of going on to become overweight or obese adults. Risk factors for heart disease, such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure, occur more frequently among overweight children than those with a healthier weight. Overweight is also closely linked to type-2 diabetes and can have emotional effects such as poor self-esteem and depression (National Survey of Children's Health).
HEEL data shows that Kentucky ranks at the bottom of the scale for physical activity and high on the scale for childhood obesity. The National Survey of Children's Health shows that Kentucky's childhood obesity rate is significantly higher in ages 10 to 17 and physical activity rate is significantly lower in organized sport (which helps increase physical activity).
KIP data in Lyon County continues to show a high percentage of youth try and/or use tobacco products. Through teen taught anti-tobacco programs, younger children are more likely to develop refusal skills that will help them say "NO" to tobacco, alcohol, and drugs. These skills can be used to make other healthy lifestyle choices.
Youth will become more healthy through the use of learned refusal skills to say "NO" to tobacco use and other unhealthy choices regarding nutrition and physical activity and mental and social health.
Youth will learn refusal skills to say "NO" to unhealthy all lifestyle choices. Participants will learn ways to increase the amount of physical activity, taste new foods and make wiser snack and meal choices, become intolerant of bullying and other mentally and socially unhealthy issues.
Youth will learn the importance of making wise decisions regarding nutrition and physical activity, tobacco and other drug use, bullying and other mental and social health issues.
Initial Outcome: Students will report learning refusal skills
Indicator: Discussion following TATU and other health related programs
Method: Self-reported data
Timeline: Spring 2025
Intermediate Outcome: Students will use knowledge gained to choose new foods & physical activity, refuse tobacco and other drugs, and not participate in bullying and other socially unhealthy behaviors.
Indicator: Students will discuss their choices in open forums
Method: Discussion in classrooms
Timeline: 2024-2025
Long-Term Outcome: Students adopt practices that impact long term health
Indicator: Students will report eating a variety of foods & being physically active, refusing to partake of tobacco and other drugs, and refusing to be part of mentally and socially unhealthy behaviors.
Method: Surveys - Formal & Informal
Timeline: 2024-2025 School Year
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: National Nutrition Month
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Specialist, Volunteers
Date: March 2025
Audience: 4th & 5th Grades
Project or Activity: Classroom Club Health Tips
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Teachers
Date: Throughout 2024-2025 school year
Audience: 4th & 5th Grades
Project or Activity: TATU (Teens Against Tobacco Use)
Content or Curriculum: American Lung Association Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Teen Leaders, Teachers
Date: Spring 2025
Audience: 4th & 5th Grades
Project or Activity: Positive Self-image
Content or Curriculum: Mental Health Programs
Inputs: Agent, Teachers
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Middle School 6th-8th Grade
Project or Activity: Anti-Bullying Program
Content or Curriculum: Anti-Bullying Programs
Inputs: Agent, Teachers
Date: Spring 2025
