Edmonson County CES

Title:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices

MAP:

Family and Consumer Sciences

Agents Involved:

Laura-Grace Vincent FCS/4-H Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Nutrition and Food Systems General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Food Preparation and Preservation

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

LEAP

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Super Star Chef

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

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
• Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
• Improvement in the built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
• Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating.
• Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
• Maintain appropriate calorie balance during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and           older age

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:

Initial Outcome:

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Method:

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Intermediate Outcome:

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Long-term Outcome:

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Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth Pre-K-3rd grade

Project or Activity: Youth Wellness

Content or Curriculum: LEAP,. Professor Popcorn

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, Homemakers, Kentucky CES publications and SNAP/NEP resources

Date: ongoing

Audience: Youth 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Food Preparation, 4-H Cooking Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef, My Plate, Blender Bike

Inputs: FCS and 4-H agents, volunteers, SNAP/NEP resources, KSU agent Bridgett Poteet

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Adults, 4-H members, current and potential extension users, Homemakers 

Project or Activity: canning, freezing, pickling and freeze drying

Content or Curriculum: Food Preservation Program

Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers, Kentucky CES publications and resources KSU agents, volunteers, 

Date: Ongoing