Food and Fitness

Annie Goodwin, RD Co-Chair
Nancy Lyons, MN Co-Chair

The Food and Fitness Coalition continued to keep members and school personnel apprised of developments in other parts of the country and in other school systems. Local school districts have revised their nutrition and physical activity policies with an eye to creating healthier environments for the children.

The Coalition hopes to introduce the Food is Elementary Curriculum to school aged children during the summer and fall of 2007. Co-Chair Nancy Lyons plans to submit a grant to the WHF to support bringing Dr Antonia Demas, the author of the curriculum to the Tri-Cities. A public forum is planned as well as two day workshop to train 30 people to implement the curriculum.

In addition, the Coalition will utilize the Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community (ENACT) strategy, a program management tool of the Prevention Institute, to track the past efforts and to guide the development of future strategies for the Coalition.

Walk for the Health of It!

The Alliance challenged all the jurisdictions on the Benton Franklin Board of Health to Walk for the Health of It! The Challenge period is April 8 through May 26, 2005. The letter from the Board of Health to the jurisdictions within Benton and Franklin County is printed below.

Dear Colleagues,
The Benton-Franklin District Board of Health and the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance have issued a challenge to all the jurisdictions within Benton and Franklin County: Walk for the Health of It! Your representatives to the Board of Health have accepted the challenge on your behalf.

The challenge is to wear a pedometer, take as many steps as possible over the next few weeks, to record the number of steps taken each day, and to improve your health as you go about your daily activities. In the process, the Alliance and the Board of Health plan to bring media attention to the health value of walking and living a physically active life. There will be challenge winners in four areas: jurisdiction with the highest average steps per day; jurisdiction with the greatest improvement in number of steps taken per day; jurisdiction with the highest percentage of participation in the challenge (I anticipate a tie in this category - we will all participate, I’m sure); most steps by an individual participant.

As you have no doubt heard, our nation is becoming increasingly overweight or obese. Washington State has followed the national trend; 21% of Washingtonians are considered obese and more than 60% are overweight; about 44 % are physically inactive. A higher proportion of Benton-Franklin adults are obese (25% vs. 21% of adults statewide). A number of chronic BUT PREVENTABLE diseases are associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Heart disease, hypertension, strokes, diabetes and some forms of cancer are all related to lack of physical activity and poor nutrition choices. As community leaders, we can call attention to these health risks and a simple preventive measure- Get active! Walk for the Health of It!

Please join me and the other members of the Board of Health in participating in the Walk for the Health of It Challenge. You will be doing the community a great service- and your own health will benefit at the same time.

Yours in health,

Tom Moak

Chair, Benton-Franklin District Board of Health

Walk Across Washington

The Association of Washington Cities is again encouraging local participation in a state-wide event called Walk Across Washington. The Walks are a celebration of healthy lifestyles. They are intended to promote healthy people, healthy families, healthy workplaces and healthy communities. The walks will be held throughout Washington October 9-15, 2005. The BF Community Health Alliance is encouraging each of the Tri-Cities- Kennewick, Pasco and Richland , to host a segment along its riverfront and/or through an historic downtown area. For more information on Walk Across Washington, visit www.walkwashington.org.

		Home Directors Community Council Access to Care Domestic Violence Food and Fitness Health Care Workforce Mental Health Oral Health Patient Safety Coalition Tobacco Use Other Initiatives News	Links Contact Us Mission To assess community health needs and to facilitate collaborative, community-wide solutions that provide affordable, high quality wellness and accessible health care to all residents of the Mid-Columbia.
	Food and Fitness Annie Goodwin, RD Co-Chair Nancy Lyons, MN Co-Chair The Food and Fitness Coalition continued to keep members and school personnel apprised of developments in other parts of the country and in other school systems. Local school districts have revised their nutrition and physical activity policies with an eye to creating healthier environments for the children. The Coalition hopes to introduce the Food is Elementary Curriculum to school aged children during the summer and fall of 2007. Co-Chair Nancy Lyons plans to submit a grant to the WHF to support bringing Dr Antonia Demas, the author of the curriculum to the Tri-Cities. A public forum is planned as well as two day workshop to train 30 people to implement the curriculum. In addition, the Coalition will utilize the Environmental Nutrition and Activity Community (ENACT) strategy, a program management tool of the Prevention Institute, to track the past efforts and to guide the development of future strategies for the Coalition. Walk for the Health of It! The Alliance challenged all the jurisdictions on the Benton Franklin Board of Health to Walk for the Health of It! The Challenge period is April 8 through May 26, 2005. The letter from the Board of Health to the jurisdictions within Benton and Franklin County is printed below. Dear Colleagues, The Benton-Franklin District Board of Health and the Benton Franklin Community Health Alliance have issued a challenge to all the jurisdictions within Benton and Franklin County: Walk for the Health of It! Your representatives to the Board of Health have accepted the challenge on your behalf. The challenge is to wear a pedometer, take as many steps as possible over the next few weeks, to record the number of steps taken each day, and to improve your health as you go about your daily activities. In the process, the Alliance and the Board of Health plan to bring media attention to the health value of walking and living a physically active life. There will be challenge winners in four areas: jurisdiction with the highest average steps per day; jurisdiction with the greatest improvement in number of steps taken per day; jurisdiction with the highest percentage of participation in the challenge (I anticipate a tie in this category - we will all participate, I’m sure); most steps by an individual participant. As you have no doubt heard, our nation is becoming increasingly overweight or obese. Washington State has followed the national trend; 21% of Washingtonians are considered obese and more than 60% are overweight; about 44 % are physically inactive. A higher proportion of Benton-Franklin adults are obese (25% vs. 21% of adults statewide). A number of chronic BUT PREVENTABLE diseases are associated with physical inactivity and obesity. Heart disease, hypertension, strokes, diabetes and some forms of cancer are all related to lack of physical activity and poor nutrition choices. As community leaders, we can call attention to these health risks and a simple preventive measure- Get active! Walk for the Health of It! Please join me and the other members of the Board of Health in participating in the Walk for the Health of It Challenge. You will be doing the community a great service- and your own health will benefit at the same time. Yours in health, Tom Moak Chair, Benton-Franklin District Board of Health Walk Across Washington The Association of Washington Cities is again encouraging local participation in a state-wide event called Walk Across Washington. The Walks are a celebration of healthy lifestyles. They are intended to promote healthy people, healthy families, healthy workplaces and healthy communities. The walks will be held throughout Washington October 9-15, 2005. The BF Community Health Alliance is encouraging each of the Tri-Cities- Kennewick, Pasco and Richland , to host a segment along its riverfront and/or through an historic downtown area. For more information on Walk Across Washington, visit www.walkwashington.org.

Mission

Food and Fitness

Walk for the Health of It!

Walk Across Washington