Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating and Nurturing Healthy Lifestyles
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Kayla Watts & Reed Graham
Health 4-H Core Curriculum
Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Sustainable Agriculture
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
The Centers for Disease Control found in a nationally representative survey that only 29% of high school youth participated in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on each of the seven days before the survey. Participation in physical activity decreases as we age.
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.
• 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
• A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly
• Increase in positive health habits
• Lower the risk for physical and emotional distress
• Youth are competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Health
programs
• Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
• Practice of physical activity in families and communities and decreased time spent on sedentary behaviors
• 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.
• Decrease risky health choices across the lifespan
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
Practice Self-Esteem Building
Practice Stress Management
Initial Outcomes:
Indicator: Participants will report an increase in knowledge of topics related to making healthy lifestyle choices
Methods: Pre/Post Survey, Program Evaluation
Timeline: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Participants will report a behavior change related to making healthier lifestyle choices
Method: 3-6 Month Follow-up Post Survey, 3-6 month Evaluation
Timeline: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Increase in positive health statistics for Breathitt County
Method: Track community involvement in positive programming, Review of data collection and yearly health reports for Breathitt County
Timeline: 2017-2020
Audience: Youth in grades 4-6
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs/Meetings/Activities
Content or Curriculum: Teen Cuisine Curriculum, Health Rocks Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Volunteers, Educators
Date: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Audience: Youth in grade 9
Project or Activity: Truth & Consequences- The Choice is Yours
Content or Curriculum: T&C/FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Local Community Members, School Systems
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: Youth in grades 7-8
Project or Activity: Reality Store
Content or Curriculum: Reality Store curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Community Partners, Educators
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: All Ages
Project or Activity: Home Gardening
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications - Gardening
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Community Partners, Educators
Date: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Audience: Primary
Project or Activity: LEAP
Content or Curriculum: LEAP Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Educators, School Administration
Date: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Audience: All Ages
Project or Activity: Walking and Physical Activity Programs
Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Curriculums/Programs/Get Moving Kentucky
Inputs: Agents, Educators, Volunteers, Community Partners
Date: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Audience: All Ages
Project or Activity: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Curriculums/Programs
Inputs: Agents, Educators, Volunteers
Date: Fall 2018-Spring 2019
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
According to 2017 US Census Data – QuickFacts, the median household income in Breathitt County is $25,861.00 and 36.2% of the population of Breathitt County is living in poverty. Because the holidays are both a joyous and financially stressful time for Breathitt County citizens, especially those living at or below the poverty line, it is very important that such audiences have access to educational information to help them financially manage during the holiday season.To assist indivi
Author: Reed Graham
Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture
According to the Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky, (CEDIK), the percentage of adults in Breathitt County who are obese is 39.8% with the state average being 32.9%. Research shows that eating fresh vegetables and exercising can reduce obesity rates. Gardening increases both physical activity, as well as, access to fresh vegetables. As a way to combat obesity rates, Breathitt County Agriculture and Natural Resource Agent Reed Graham conducted a gardening program for 2
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
According to recent findings by VCU’s Center on Society and Health, Breathitt County Kentucky has one of the worst mortality rates in the state in part, due to counts of substance abuse and overdose death. There is a strong need for continued substance abuse prevention and intervention in Breathitt County. The number of diverted prescriptions and illegal drugs, overdoses, thefts, arrests, court cases, and medical/financial consequences of drug abuse continue to negatively impact a la
Author: Kayla Watts
Major Program: Get Moving Kentucky (Physical Activity Based Programs)
According to Kentucky County Healthcare Profiles: County Health Indicators from 2014, 15.8% of the adult population of Breathitt County has diabetes and 30.9% of the adult population is obese. Because physical activity is linked to better management of chronic diseases and lowering obesity rates, it is very important that Breathitt County citizens, particularly the mentioned populations, have access and motivation to participate in physical activities.Breathitt County Extension Agent for F
