Walking the Course

According to the Lane Report for Statistics, Kentucky adults have the sixth highest obesity rate in the United States.  The director of a recovery center contacted the Boyd County Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed) Nutrition Education Program (NEP) assistant expressing concern regarding the weight gain of the residents. Of particular concern was that the clients were gaining weight from being inactive and lack of exercise. Research shows that this type of behavior can lead to diseases such as diabetes, kidney disease and heart disease.

The NEP assistant partnered with the center and taught weekly classes with the participants using the Healthy Choices for the Recovering Body curriculum.   During the lessons, the participants were taught how to comprehend recipes, follow recipe directions, prepare dishes, and offered tips on becoming more physically active.    To encourage the participants to become more physically active, a lesson was held at a local park which has a disc golf course.  The participants were each given a flying disc to learn and participate in this sport.    

As a result of the participants receiving their own disc and learning the game,  83% (10 of 12)  participants reported that they enjoyed the activity and being outdoors.  After 4 weeks, the participants were playing this sport at least 4 times weekly and walking the terrain of the complete course.   A few of the participants wore pedometers and without realizing how much they were walking, their pedometers read approximately 3-3.5 miles each time they visited the course.