Extension
It Starts With Us
Healthy Henry
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Cathy Toole, Krista Perry, Megan McCoun
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Community Health Needs Assessment
Leadership
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 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.
Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates. Components of Kentucky 4-H Health Core Curriculum include: physical activity, substance abuse, bullying, safety, and character education. Moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes,colon cancer, stress and high blood pressure.Early substance use in childhood/adolescence affects later drug use (National Healthy Living Task Force). Almost 30% of youth in the United States (or over 5.7 million) are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both (http://www.safeyouth.org/scripts/faq/bullying.asp).
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 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 number of youth maintaining positive health habits;
Increase number of youth at a lower risk for serious disease and illness;
Increased number of youth at a lower risk for physical and emotional distress
Youth will develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as important developmental assets are met through their participation in 4-H Health programs.
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.
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.
Increased adoption and mastery of healthy behaviors that lead to a healthy lifestyle that include making healthy lifestyle choices, not engaging in risky behavior and handling stress.
Making healthier lifestyle choices.
Practice and promotion of daily physical activity.
Youth will identify healthy lifestyle choices
Youth will understand risky behaviors and their consequences
Youth will aspire to have higher self esteem
Youth will identify healthy ways to handle stress
Long-term Outcome: Improved Community Health
Indicator: Health Reports
Method: Health Department Figures
Timeline: Ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: 30 individuals will implement preventative health practices
Indicator: practice physical activity and decrease time on sedentary behavior
Method: Questionnaire and personal testimony
Timeline: July-December 2024
Initial Outcome: Youth will adopt healthier lifestyles.
Indicator: Attendance Records, instructor observation and discussions,
Method: Survey and Personal Observation
Timeline: October - May 2024
Audience: Senior Citizens
Project or Activity:Living Well
Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Inputs: Lessons/Handouts/presentation/promotion
Date: July-December 2024
Audience: Homemakers
Project or Activity: Leader Training
Content or Curriculum: Exercise Anytime
Inputs: Promotion/Evaluation
Date: March-May 2024
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Get Fit
Content or Curriculum: Spark
Inputs: Promotion/Evaluation
Date: January-February 2024
Audience; 4-H members (4-5th grade)
Project or Activity: Jump into Food and Fitness
Content or Curriculum: UK approved
Inputs:teach activities in the beginning and advanced cooking clubs that meet monthly
Date: April 2024
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Beginning and Advanced cooking clubs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Cooking Curriculum
Inputs: teach proper cooking terms, how to read recipes, manners, setting table properly. Nutrition value of food. Healthy activities.
Date: October- May 2024
Audience: Farmer's market participants
Project or Activity: Farmers Market promotions, cooking at the farmer's market.
Content or Curriculum: UK approved.
Inputs: teach proper preparation of SNAP-approved recipes using ingredients that can be found at the farmers market at that time.
Date: Summer 2024
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Walking KentuckyPhysical activity and good mental health are essential for preventing chronic diseases. These are serious public health concerns that require effective interventions to encourage positive behavior change. Walking Kentucky is a community campaign designed to increase physical activity and promote health awareness in Kentucky. You don't need any special equipment or location to incorporate physical activity into your daily routine. By joining Walking Kentuck
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
The new year began, and the Louisville Area FCS Agents were looking through the new Food and Nutrition calendars when discussion started about watching cooking shows and being more likely to try a recipe after watching someone prepare it. Also, one of the local news stations had reached out about a cooking segment; therefore, the program Cooking Through the Calendar was organized!The program consisted of each Louisville Area Extension Agent choosing a month to prepare the recipe either liv
Author: Cathy Toole
Major Program: Health
“Loneliness is the root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today – from alcohol and drug addiction to violence, depression, and anxiety. It affects not only our health but also how our children experience school, how we perform at work, and the sense of division and polarization in our society.” This excerpt from the book entitled “Together” written by Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general of the United States has become the cat
Author: Megan Wetenkamp
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
“Loneliness is the root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today – from alcohol and drug addiction to violence, depression, and anxiety. It affects not only our health but also how our children experience school, how we perform at work, and the sense of division and polarization in our society.” This excerpt from the book entitled “Together” written by Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general of the United States has become the cat
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Community Engagement
“Loneliness is the root cause and contributor to many of the epidemics sweeping the world today – from alcohol and drug addiction to violence, depression, and anxiety. It affects not only our health but also how our children experience school, how we perform at work, and the sense of division and polarization in our society.” This excerpt from the book entitled “Together” written by Dr. Vivek Murthy, the surgeon general of the United States has become the cat
