Center for Health Transformation Georgia Project

Spanish Version of the MyPlate Icon

In honor of National Hispanic Heritage Month [Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 15] the U.S. Department of Agriculture introduced a Spanish version of the MyPlate icon. 

From the CDC Fact Sheet 'Prevalence of Diabetes among Hispanics In Six U.S. Geographic Locations:'
Diabetes disproportionately affects Hispanics in the United States. Where Hispanics reside may be a key factor in how diabetes impacts their lives. Differences in access to quality health care, social and cultural factors, or the genetic makeup of the Hispanic population in a specific area may explain disparities in diabetes prevalence. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) conducted a study to examine the prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics in six U.S. geographical areas from 1998 to 2002.
Key Findings

• Among U.S. regions with the greatest proportion of Hispanic residents—California, Florida, Illinois, New York/New Jersey, Texas, and Puerto Rico—the prevalence of diagnosed diabetes among adults18 and older was 7.4 percent.
• Prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics varied by region from 6.2 percent in Illinois and New York/New Jersey to 9.3 percent in Puerto Rico.
• Diabetes tends to strike Hispanics at younger ages than the non-Hispanic white population. California had the highest rate of diabetes among younger Hispanics. Among adults aged 18 to 44 years, 3.2 percent of Hispanics had diagnosed diabetes compared with 1.3 percent of non-Hispanic whites in that age group.
• The Hispanic population in the United States is younger the non-Hispanic population. When accounting for the different age distributions, the overall prevalence of diabetes among Hispanics was almost twice that of non-Hispanic whites (9.8 percent vs. 5.0 percent).  
• In all geographic areas, diabetes rates increased with age. Illinois had the highest rates among middle-aged adults aged 45-54 years (15.9 percent vs. 4.6 percent) and among adults aged 65 years and older (25.8 percent vs.15.0 percent)
• Prevalence of diabetes decreased with higher education levels. Among Hispanics with less than a high school education, 11.8 percent had diabetes compared to 7.0 percent of college graduates.

Go Chicago!

Kudos to the Chicago Park District!  The Chicago Park District and partners recently unveiled vending machines stocked only with healthy snacks.  New nutritional standards for the snacks in the vending  machine include limitations on calories, sodium, fat and sugar per serving. 

The healthy vending policy stemmed from the wellness center programs that are offered at six parks citywide. The programs are completely privately funded through the Abbott Fund, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois, Bank of America and Wal-Mart Foundation. The wellness centers offer programs and amenities for the whole family to get active and learn about overall health and well being.

The healthy vending policy states that all foods served at Chicago Park District functions must meet certain nutritional requirements. Both park staff and patrons are being educated on this policy change and Information will be distributed and posted at every Chicago Park District location.  The Park District is composed of 588 parks.  Way to go Chicago!

Healthier Holidays

I noticed an interesting trend in reviewing data on the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index website.  Healthy behaviors begin to decrease in September and continue to decrease through December with an upward trend beginning in January.  The trend was seen in 2008 and 2009 data.  It will be interesting to see if the trend holds true in 2010.  It seems that holidays trigger unhealthy behaviors - over eating, eating foods high in fat and sugar, decreased exercise - followed by New Year resolutions that start a period of healthier behavior.

The data made me think about ways to have healthier holidays.  With Halloween coming up this weekend and Thanksgiving later in November, the challenge is to have celebrations that support a healthy lifestyle.  Cutting out some of the sugar in the Halloween treats [and the volume of treats] is certainly a place to start. 

Using less fat and sugar in preparing Thanksgiving dinner and  following  dinner with a family walk around the neighborhood would be a good tradition to start in 2010.  Small changes can have big results.  Would love to hear your suggestions for healthier holidays!

What Works in Schools?

As I was researching healthy community initiatives I came across a very helpful document at http://dhs.wisconsin.gov/health/physicalactivity/pdf_files/WhatWorksSchoolsfinal.pdf.  As childhood obesity continues to threaten the future of our country many commununity organizations are partnering with schools to make a difference.  Programs aimed at increasing physical activity, improving school lunch programs, addressing the vending machine choices, and educating students on healthy lifestyle are increasing.  An understanding of how to work within the school system is critical to the success of these programs.  Visit the Wisconsin website for some great ideas.

Do We Value Health?

As I've been working with some colleagues on a healthy communinity initiative we've been talking a lot about the state of the health of Americans.  With the statistics on obesity in this country, the lack of physical activity in our schools, the lack of healthy eating habits, and the resistance to change to a unhealthy behaviors, I don't think that the majority of Americans do value health.  There is a focus on health care  right now, but very little focus on health. 

Health requires that the individual take control and make the right choices.  Health is not always easy.  Health requires we change our behavior.  That we say 'no' to our children.  That we say 'no' to ourselves.  Let's spend a little less time finding ways for the government to take care of us and find ways to take care of ourselves.  Get the family to take a walk tonight after dinner; limit computer time; take the dog for a walk - make one change to make you and your family more active.  Find healthier ways to prepare your meals - use olive oil, switch to whole grain bread, add fresh vegetables [find your local farmer's market].  Make health a focus in your life.  Help your children form those habits that will bring them a lifetime of health; not those habits that will continue them on the unhealthy path the majority of Americans are on.

Food Revolution

I was just introduced to a new TV show - ' Jamie Oliver's Food Revolution.'  For an eye-opening look into food and our children check out this series.  Jamie is a chef from Essex who believes that every child in America has the right to fresh, nutritious school meals, and that every family deserves real, honest, wholesome food. He is starting a movement to get Americans to stand up for better food!

In one part of the series Jamie talked with a group of 5-year olds and quizzed them on identifying different foods.  He picked up a raw potato and asked if anyone knew what it was.  Not one child knew.  Then he held up a red, ripe tomato and again, not one child could identify it.  The same with cauliflower and other fresh vegetables.  Then he held up pizza - identified!  The same with french fries, chicken nuggets, hamburgers. It reflects the foods many of our children are exposed to and which ones they are not. 

I'm looking forward to seeing the series unfold and observing transformation in progress.  This series will provide some great lessons on changing health behaviors.  From the school system, to the individual school, to the homes, the parents and the children it will be an amazing journey.  Check it out on Friday evenings, 9 pm EST on ABC.

Success of the Vitality Project in Albert Lea, MN

The Vitality Project in Albert Lea, MN came to it's official end on Tuesday evening.  A project spearheaded by Dan Buetter, founder of Blue Zones and supported by AARP and United Health Foundation, the project focused on changing the health of a community through a 6 week intensive application of those principles found to increase longevity.

Some of the successes of the project included the following: 2,300 people officially participated; a walking/biking trail was completed around Fountain Lake; thousands of feet of sidewalk were added; hundreds of kids walked to school in walking school buses and more than 600 citizens joined walking groups; nearly a thousand Albert Leans took part in purpose workshops; and two-thirds of locally owned restaurants added longevity-promoting foods to their menus.

For additional information on the community project in Albert Lea, MN visit:

Good Morning America

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/VitalityProject/vitality-project-make-town-healthier/story?id=8818625

 

Front page story in the Pioneer Press

www.pioneerpress.com

 

AP story –

www.associatedpress.com

The Vitality Project provides an excellent model for other communities as they begin the journey to transform the health of their citizens.

As a follow up to the Microsoft HealthVault project "Be Well Columbus, Georgia" a video has been posted on the Microsoft HealthVault website highlighting the project.  Columbus, Georgia joins other health stories on the Microsoft website that embody Microsoft's vision to improve health around the world through software innovation.  Congratulations to the Columbus Research Foundation for leading this effort and getting Georgia 'on the map!'

Make the Right Choice

On a cnn quick poll 74% of 6290 respondents identified motivation or lack of willpower as their biggest obstacle to losing weight or getting fit.  The next most frequently identified obstacle at 8% was finding a diet/fitness plan.  Only 5% of the respondents selected access to healthy food as their biggest obstacle.  It seems that for the majority of us the healthy choice is available, we just need to make it.  

One of the best pieces of advice I've heard recently related to this was from Dr. Oz, co-author of You: The Owners Manual and other health, diet and fitness books.  His advice is to make the decision at the grocery store, not your cupboard.  In other words,don't bring the unhealthy foods into your home in the first place.  Make it easy to make the right choice for you and your family.  This advice also applies to the choices in vending machines in schools and places of employment.  Lead an effort to get healthy choices where they belong!

Be Well Columbus, Georgia Awards Ceremony

The Be Well Columbus, Georgia Awards Ceremony was held on May 18th at Arnold Magnet Academy, school of the winning homeroom.  The Be Well Columbus, Georgia Project is a pilot project instituted through the Muscogee County School District 7^th graders and was made possible by a grant the Columbus Research Foundation received from the Microsoft HealthVault Be Well Fund.  During a three month period from January 17 until April 24, 2009, participating students were encouraged to increase their physical activity as they took a virtual walk across the United States and to check their daily meal, snack and drink intake.  This data was logged on the Be Well Columbus, Georgia/Walk to Microsoft website, which was developed specifically for this project. 

 

After words from Mayor Jim Wetherington, Bill Reid of Microsoft Corporation, Laura Linn of the Center for Health Transformation, Mike Gaymon of the Greater Columbus Chamber of Commerce, Valerie Fuller of the MCSD, and Susan Wood of the Muscogee County Council of PTA's, awards were presented to the students by Royce Ann Adkins and Pam Tinkler of the Columbus Research Foundation.

 

First place went to Mrs. Ronda Allen's homeroom at Arnold Magnet Academy.  The 7th grade students in this homeroom were the first to log enough miles walked to reach Bellevue, Washington, home of the Microsoft Corporation.  The 2nd place winner was the homeroom of Mrs. Sara Davis at Marshall Middle School; 3rd place went to the home room of Mrs. Melissa Niemi at Arnold. 

 

The overall goal of the project was to teach and instill healthy lifestyle choices in the area’s adolescents, thereby preventing diabetes and other metabolic disorders associated with being overweight.  Over 1000 students participated in the project.  It was encouraging to see adolescents engaged in their health.  This project serves as a great model for other communities interested in improving the health of their children.