Extension
It Starts With Us
Becoming Healthy
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Jamille Hawkins
Nutrition and Food Systems General
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. 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. The Monroe County FCS Council has participated in health programs before but feel this issue is still a major factor in our county’s population. Addressing these needs will hopefully reverse this issue and have the life expectancy to rise.
•Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
•Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
•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
•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
•Changes related to obesity, physical activity and healthy eating.
•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
•Reduction of chronic disease
Initial Outcome:
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
•Reduction of chronic disease
Intermediate Outcome:
Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
Indicator:1. Number of individuals who reported eating less of foods/food components which are commonly eaten in excess (sodium, saturated fats, trans fat, cholesterol, SoFAS, refined grains).
2. Number who increase the number of dark green leafy, red and yellow/orange, and beans and peas in their diet
3. Number of individuals implementing personal health protection practices (screening, immunizations, well-baby care, preventive health practices, etc.)
Method: Family Meal Time Post survey
Timeline: July 2018-June 2020- January Annually
Long-term Outcome:Manage and prevent the risk, debilitation, and premature death related to diabetes, cancer, heart disease, stroke and hypertension
Indicator: 1. Number of individuals who reported improving at least one behavior related to subjects taught (food preparation, addition of fruits and vegetables into the diet, movement of the body that leads to better physical fitness, and reducing the risk of chronic disease)
2. Number of individuals who made lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, etc.) for the purpose of improving their health
3. Number that reported utilizing delivery systems/access points (e.g., farmer’s markets, CSA’s, WIC, Food Pantry) that offer healthy foods
Method:Weight the Reality Series- Is it still working?? Form and post test questionnaire.
Timeline: August 2017-June 2020- January annually- Is it still working?? From 6 months later.
Audience: Low Income Individuals, Health Professionals, schools, & minority groups
Project or Activity:Weight the Reality Series
Content or Curriculum:Weight the Reality Series.
Inputs: Local, State & Federal Government, registered dieticians, KHEA, CES agents and specialists.
Date: August 2017-June 2020- January Annually
Audience: schools, child care providers, low income, and individuals and families.
Project or Activity:Literacy, Eating, Activity, for Primary Youth Health (LEAP)
Content or Curriculum:LEAP curriculum, books
Inputs:KY CES publications and resources, nonprofit agencies, local, state, and federal government
Date: August- May 2017-2020- every month within the school calendar year.
Audience:Low income families, and individuals, minority groups, human and social services agencies, and child care providers
Project or Activity: Family Meal Time
Content or Curriculum:Family Meal Time
Inputs: KY Extension specialists, and CES agents, Extension resources, KEHA, medical professionals, registered dieticians.
Date: October 2017-December 2017
