Extension
It Starts With Us
Creating a Quality Lifestyle
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
FCS Agent
Nurturing Families (general)
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Nurturing Parenting
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
•Improvement in the built environment to promote physical activity and healthy eating
•Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build
healthy eating plans and patterns.
•Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability
to cope with normal life stressors.
•Practice and promotion of daily physical activity
-Increase awareness of healthy lifestyle choices
Initial Outcome:Practice and promotion of daily physical activity and
increased awareness of healthy lifestyle choices
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported increase in knowledge related to eating more healthy foods (such as fruits; vegetables; especially dark green and red and orange vegetables and beans and peas; whole grains, fat free or low-fat milk and milk products; seafood twice a week, fiber) that improve personal health
Method: Participant report
Timeline: July-June
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy food choices and strengthen individuals’ ability to build healthy eating plans and patterns.
Indicator:Number of individuals who reported eating more foods (such as fruits; vegetables; especially dark green and red and orange vegetables and beans and peas; whole grains, fat free or low-fat milk and milk products; seafood twice a week, fiber) for the purpose of improving their health
Method: Participant report
Timeline: July-June
Long-term Outcome: •Increase in the practice and promotion of physical activity and healthy eating daily
Indicator: Number of individuals who made lifestyle changes (diet, exercise, managing stressors, etc.) for the purpose of improving their health
Method: Participant Report
Timeline: July-June
Audience: Children 2-8
Project or Activity: LEAP
Content or Curriculum: LEAP Curriculum and Library books
Inputs: UK CES publications and resources
Date: January - May
Audience: Youth, Adults, Seniors
Project or Activity: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices
Content or Curriculum: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices Curriculum
Inputs: •Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Date: July - June
Audience: Youth, Adults
Project or Activity: Super Star Chef
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef Curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky CES Publications and Resources
Date: Fall - June
Audience: Low-income families
Project/Activity: SNAP-ED
Content: Making Healthy Lifestyle Curriculum; Plate it Up; Kentucky Proud, etc.
Date: July - June
Audience: Individuals seeking a weight-loss program
Project/Activity: Biggest Loser/WTRS
Content: UK CES publications
Date: Fall - Winter
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
The University of Kentucky Research and Education Center at Princeton serves as a valuable resource for agricultural activities in western Kentucky. Both commercial scale producers and homeowners can benefit from the services that are offered through the Research and Education Center. An example of the individual impact made by Cooperative Extension personnel was demonstrated through the identification and treatment recommendations for a pest infestation presented by a homeowner. The homeowner s
