Health News
A new report takes a hard look at obesity in Kentucky and highlights what individual communities are doing to combat the problem.
"Shaping Kentucky's Future: A Community Guide to Reducing Obesity" could be useful to readers, officials and advocates interested in effecting change, with some efforts relatively easy ? and cheap ? to implement.
Statewide, 33 percent of children, 60 percent of women and 80 percent of men are overweight or obese, ranking Kentucky's third highest in the country for children and sixth highest for adults. Health care costs attributable to obesity in Kentucky are estimated to be $2.3 billion in 2013.
The report highlights community efforts in:
? Berea, for its effort to make the city more accessible to pedestrians.
? Winchester, for mowing a walking trail on land owned by the community hospital.
? Louisville, for supporting breast-feeding mothers; selling healthy food at urban markets
? Madisonville, for Hopkins County's wellness program for its 150 county employees.
? Lexington, for serving the Better Bites menu at several pools and city facilities, rather than unhealthy meals and snacks.
? Hopkinsville, for its farmers' market being one of the first to accept SNAP nutrition assistance benefits.
? Tyner, for building a commercial kitchen so residents can process local food and package it for sale.
? Buckhorn, Lexington and Shelbyville, for opening up schools for exercise venues.
The report, which was funded by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the Shaping Kentucky's Future Collaborative and the Tides Foundation, also looks at success stories in schools, from an effort at Science Hill in Pulaski County to the Healthy Monday program in Covington, which includes walking the Monday Mile and eating the Monday Meatless Meal. (Read more)
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Health News
Report looks at ways Kentucky communities are battling obesity
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| Winchester residents walk the Traveling Trail, a walking path meant to encourage residents to exercise. |
"Shaping Kentucky's Future: A Community Guide to Reducing Obesity" could be useful to readers, officials and advocates interested in effecting change, with some efforts relatively easy ? and cheap ? to implement.
Statewide, 33 percent of children, 60 percent of women and 80 percent of men are overweight or obese, ranking Kentucky's third highest in the country for children and sixth highest for adults. Health care costs attributable to obesity in Kentucky are estimated to be $2.3 billion in 2013.
The report highlights community efforts in:
? Berea, for its effort to make the city more accessible to pedestrians.
? Winchester, for mowing a walking trail on land owned by the community hospital.
? Louisville, for supporting breast-feeding mothers; selling healthy food at urban markets
? Madisonville, for Hopkins County's wellness program for its 150 county employees.
? Lexington, for serving the Better Bites menu at several pools and city facilities, rather than unhealthy meals and snacks.
? Hopkinsville, for its farmers' market being one of the first to accept SNAP nutrition assistance benefits.
? Tyner, for building a commercial kitchen so residents can process local food and package it for sale.
? Buckhorn, Lexington and Shelbyville, for opening up schools for exercise venues.
The report, which was funded by the Kentucky Department for Public Health, the Shaping Kentucky's Future Collaborative and the Tides Foundation, also looks at success stories in schools, from an effort at Science Hill in Pulaski County to the Healthy Monday program in Covington, which includes walking the Monday Mile and eating the Monday Meatless Meal. (Read more)
- Community-based Solutions To Childhood Obesity Show Signs Of Progress Elsewhere; Will Kentucky Pick Up On Them?
By Molly Burchett Kentucky Health News For decades, researchers reported with alarm the increasing trend of overweight children in America, with one in three kids on the way to developing Type 2 diabetes. Across the country, action has been taken to address...
- Parents Should Walk The Walk, Not Just Talk The Talk, When It Comes To Healthy Eating And Exercise, Study Shows
A new study highlights the influential role parents have in shaping their children's eating and exercise habits. Children of mothers who encourage them to exercise and eat well, while doing likewise themselves, are more likely to be active and healthy...
- What Is Being Done To Fight Child Obesity In Kentucky, Which Ranks Third Nationally In The Problem? (second In A Series)
Students in Kenton County Schools sample kale chips as part of an effort to incorporate more fruit and vegetables into their diets. (School district photo)By Tara Kaprowy Kentucky Health News Now that all schools are back in session, cafeterias in every...
- September Is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month
September has been proclaimed national Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, with President Obama asking Americans to "take action by learning about and engaging in activities that promote healthy eating and greater physical activity by all our nation's...
- Cities' Efforts To Combat Obesity Get State, National Attention
The efforts of two Kentucky cities to slim down made news this week. On Monday, The New York Times ran a story about Louisville's programs to encourage healthy eating and physical activity in an attempt to combat obesity. On Tuesday, the Lexington...