Healthy Living is one of three 4-H mission mandates.  Physical activity is a component of this mandate.  “Moderate physical activity can reduce the risk of developing heart disease, diabetes, colon cancer, stress and high blood pressure.  Physically active people live longer and better quality lives than inactive people.  Physical activity levels decrease across the lifespan.  Children and youth should engage in 60 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity, ideally every day.  There is a significant decrease in the amount of physical activity between elementary school and high school students, especially for girls.”  (Source: National 4-H Healthy Living Task Force)

The Todd County 4-H program in partnership with the 21st Century Learning Center provided a twelve week fitness and nutrition education program to 27 middle school youth to improve their physical activity  and healthy eating behavior skills leading to a healthier lifestyle.  In addition, the Todd County 4-H program also provided a 4-H Cooking Club for 10 elementary and middle school youth to teach healthy recipes and physical fitness. 

Each week, 4-H Extension and the Youth Service Center delivered fitness programs and nutrition lessons to build healthier living into the lives of the students. The end of program results for the 4-H Fitness Club showed great improvements through an end of program survey as well as a focus group 1 month after the completion of the program: 

65% said they increased their physical activity from no activity to twice a week moderate exercise due to participation in the 4-H fitness program.       37% reported eating healthier foods due to the program.                                                                                                                                                   55% claimed to exercise more often on their own than before the fitness program. Giving evidence to behavioral change over time.                              25% attested to keeping records of nutrition and exercise on a weekly basis increased their habit of daily exercise. 

100% of the 4-H Cooking club members revealed through a focus group that their parents were making healthier meals at home due to their influence of healthier recipes learned at club meetings.