According to the Centers for Disease Control, “physical activity such as walking can help improve health even without weight loss. People who are physically active live longer and have a lower risk for heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, depression, and some cancers.” Letcher County faces challenges of being overweight (75%), obesity (38%) and lack of physical activity (41%).  

The Family and Consumer Sciences Agent began a FitBlue weekly walking and seated exercises program. Participants met once per week for 11 weeks to walk and to do seated exercises using exercise bands. They started out walking one mile and ended the program walking three miles. During the weekly program the group received lessons on health and nutrition and participants were encouraged to walk daily at home.

An evaluation was given out at the last meeting with the following results: 100% of participants have increased their physical activity and stated they feel better since participating in the program and that they plan to continue exercising on a regular basis and 75% are choosing healthier foods and/or have decreased their portion sizes. As a result of the program, two women in their 70’s and 80’s are now able to get up out of a chair without using their hands and are able to walk 10 minutes without resting.  Another participant stated that “having the FitBlue sessions just before the pandemic situation encouraged me to exercise while housed up”.