Author: Whitney Paige Alexander
Planning Unit: Logan County CES
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
With growing rates of obesity in the state of Kentucky; Logan County has a high percentage over forty percent obesity rate. In today’s society majority of adults complain that they do not have time for physical activity because they are too busy. The University of Kentucky supplied Family Consumer Science agents with a new curriculum “Couch Potato Challenge” to help individuals in the community to become more active by social media. The program focuses on building up to walking thirty minutes at least five days a week to get physical activity in.
Logan County Family Consumer Science agent and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator Assistant partnered together on the program to reach new clientele that were limited on resources and time but wanting to become more active in physical activity for their health. The program was geared on a social media group for participants that were interested in the program. The program lasted twelve weeks with ten participants and only seven completing the challenge ; the Family Consumer Science agent posted the Couch Potato Challenge tips and information throughout the week to help motivate participants. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator Assistant prerecorded videos of her teaching Healthy Choices for Every Body curriculum from the Nutrition Education Program and food demonstrations to go with each nutrition lesson. Each participant received a binder with the nutrition lessons and the recipes at the kick off meeting so they could refer back to the content in case they had questions. There was an hour blocked off each week for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Educator Assistant to answer questions, comments or concerns about the videos so participants would feel as though they are still getting interaction as face to face programs.
By completing the program participants showed positive outcomes in forty-three percent increased consumption in vegetables, forty-three percent increased consumption in variety of vegetables in a week. Forty- three percent of participants increased the amount of dinners cooking at home instead of eating out. Eighty-six percent increased their physical activity to at least thirty minutes more per a day. Seventy- one percent increased their decision on making small changes to before more active and healthy life style changes. Eighty-six percent began planning meals more often at home before grocery shopping.
Participants gained knowledge on the importance of nutrition, physical activity and to make healthy life style changes by using social media due to their busy schedules. Participants enjoyed the program because it fit into their schedule.
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