Boone County CES

Title:

Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (FCS/HORT)

MAP:

Promote Healthy Lifestyles

Agents Involved:

Diane Mason, David Koester

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Active Living and Health Promotions General

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 working with various organizations, agencies, and groups to promote the health and wellness in all Kentuckians.

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

Improvement in the built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating

Improvement in the mental health and well-being 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

More people growing and eating their own fresh fruits and vegetables, gaining health benefits from more exercise (gardening) and from gaining easy access to healthier foods with more fiber and less fat, through fresh garden produce they grow at home.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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

Community members advocate for policy implementation and 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.

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: Post program surveys

Indicator: Change in knowledge or attitude and intent to implement

Method: Post program surveys

Timeline: Immediately following program

Intermediate Outcome: Post Program Surveys

Indicator: Use of information from program and change in practice or behavior

Method: Mailed or on-line survey of participants

Timeline: 3 to 6 months following program

Long-term Outcome: Change in behavior that leads to change in health

Indicator: Community indicators for health

Method: Statistics from state and national organizations

Timeline: 4 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Adults, general public

Project or Activity:Food Preservation for the Adult Beginner

Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky curriculum

Inputs: Fact Sheets, online access

Date: July 2020

Project or Activity: Friday Food Fun:  Increasing consumption of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meats and essential nutrients

Content or Curriculum: Extension curricula; different topic each month

Inputs: Cooking supplies

Date: Monthly, July, August, September, October, November, December 2020; January, February, March, April, May, June 2021

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Could Your Kitchen Pass a Food Safety Inspection

Content or Curriculum: UK handouts, speakers

Inputs: fact sheets, online access, video creation of food safety issues in home kitchens

Date: September 2020

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Success Stories