Physical activity is one of the best ways to maintain your physical and mental health especially in the recent period of COVID guidelines of isolation and social distancing.  But, one study states that almost 80 percent of adults are not meeting the minimum guidelines for physical activity.  The lack of physical activity is linked to approximately half of all American adults having one or more preventable chronic diseases.  According to “Kentucky Health News”, Kentucky ranks 3^rd in the nation in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues.  Treatment requires measurable changes in family lifestyle.  

The Shelby County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent and the Family Resource Center Director of Southside Elementary School served as the Shelby County Contacts to promote and encourage people to participate in the annual “September County Walk Challenge for Health and Wellness.”  Over 650 people participated by keeping a monthly log sheet of their daily steps.  Many students, parents and other adults said keeping the monthly log encouraged them to increase their steps each day thus becoming more active.  

The log sheets were tallied for the county challenge.  Shelby County won the traveling trophy for a mid-size county (almost 50,000 people) with 63,982,818 steps.