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. Unhealthy lifestyle choices also lead to stroke, falls, poor oral health, and depression. Individuals in Carter County bear a heavier brunt of the obesity and chronic disease burden.

The Carter County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) partnered with nine other FCS Agents in the Northeast Area and Kentucky Extension Homemaker leaders to offer the Healthy Homemakers Series as a “train the trainer” program.  The program was offered as an area-wide training for leaders in nine counties and monthly classes at the Carter County Extension Service Education Center. Carter County Extension Homemakers attended the classes and then took the materials back to the twelve clubs in the county to educate all 200 members. The program included: Stay Happy and Healthy, The Importance of Balance, Stoke Awareness, Personal Safety, Educate Before Your Medicate, Taking Care of Your Heart, Oral Health, and Depression.

A pre-test and a post-test revealed the participants can identify: ways to manage stress, the importance of keeping a record of medications, the four types of physical activity, the risk factors for heart decease, the health benefits of laughter, ways to prevent falls at home, ways to prevent periodontal disease and the risk factors for stroke. Over Fifty percent of participants demonstrated proper stretches and strength building activities to improve balance.  They also were able to recognize the indicators of depression.  Participants committed to take steps to address potential depression and to help raise awareness to erase the stigma attached to mental health.  Leaders who were trained and taught the lessons also gained confidence and demonstrated new leadership skills through teaching.