While the main thrust of Healthy U activities will focus on the 12 individuals selected to participate in the class of 2012, health issues related to poor diet and lack of exercise plague communities across the nation.
The National Health Institute believes up to 300,000 deaths a year are attributable to obesity.
Locally, the Pettis County Community Health Assessment released last year found 30 percent of Pettis County residents have a Body Mass Index (BMI — a number representing a person’s body weight divided by the square of his or her height) of greater than 30. A range of 20 to 25 is considered optimal weight, while 30 and above is considered obese.
The Pettis assessment also found 29.4 percent of county residents reported engaging in no physical activity in their free time, and that was described as a possible contributing factor to various health issues, including the county’s 8.3 percent diabetes rate.
Bothwell Regional Health Center Outreach Coordinator Sarah Nail — who is credited with the idea behind Healthy U — and Katy Trail Community Health Center Executive Director Chris Stewart spoke with the Democrat during the first full week of activities for the inaugural class of Holly Brown, Kathy Burnett, Richard DeFord, Alicia Maggert, Chris Pummill, Lisa Brock, Robin Wollard, Trish Ballance, Brian Jackson, Bob Satnan, Letty Rodriquez and Amy Schneider.
Nail and Stewart said the Healthy U initiative was devised over two years by the Blue Ribbon Steering Committee’s Healthy Living Action Group (HLAG) to address obesity rates in Pettis County — and the related public health concerns and costs associated with obesity, such as heart disease and diabetes.
“It is an issue everywhere. It is not just exclusive to Pettis County. The Midwest and the South tend to be heavier than other parts of the country,” Stewart said. “It is the easy function of a diet that is not healthy and a lack of exercise … it is just endemic.”
Nail said the issues can be cultural and are influenced by the “accessibility of healthy foods.” Stewart added that food “traditions” such as Midwestern staples of “meat and potatoes” and Southern diets that often rely on fried foods contribute to a culture of obesity.
Both women agreed that while the issue may be a cultural one, solutions will only be found through individual accountability.
“Ultimately, we are responsible for our own health. Our doctor is not responsible for it. Our health care system is not responsible for it. Our school system is not responsible for it. We are responsible for it. We are responsible for being advocates of our own health,” Stewart said.
HLAG members hope Healthy U will be a first step in helping educate and motivate the community to become more aware of how personal lifestyle choices like overeating, lack of exercise and smoking affect not only themselves but also their community at large.
“This is an opportunity to say publicly that this is a problem. This is what makes us have such high rates of diabetes and such high rates of heart disease. This is what creates expensive health care systems. The two factors that create it are being overweight or obese, and tobacco. If we could address those two issues, we could decrease costs considerably,” Stewart said.
While the 12 Healthy U students will have the benefit of nutrition and exercise coaches to help them be successful in embracing healthier lifestyles, the women said there are basic things everyone can do to improve their health.
Stewart said a good starting point when it comes to diet is for at least half of a person’s daily food intake to consist of fruits and vegetables, with only a small portion of his or her diet coming from meats and carbohydrates.
As to exercise, Nail said people should try to be active for at least one hour per day, though such activity need not all be done in one block; nor, Nail stressed, is it necessary for people to join a gym or participate in other formal workout routines.
“There are other ways to get out and get exercise. It isn’t about having to go to the gym, it is about getting active and staying active,” Nail said.
MEET THE PARTICIPANTS
Trish Ballance
Age: 31
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married to Chris Ballance with two children, Ta’Kayla and Chris
Height: 5-8
Weight: 229
“Just because you’re alive, doesn’t mean you’re living! I want to be happy, healthy and to be able to enjoy life with my family. This was the best opportunity for me to get myself together and to inspire others that they can lose weight and be happy as well.”
Lisa Brock
Age: 48
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married with three children
Height: 5-3
Weight: 265
“The sidelines are great when your child is on the field playing, but sitting on life’s sidelines is something I had done long enough! Healthy U is an opportunity to get started and keep going. And if one person can begin their own journey reading about my personal walk — perfection!”
Holly Brown
Age: 25
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Single with a 7-year-old son
Height: 5-5
Weight: 307
“I applied for Healthy U to get an education for myself and my son. I wanted to develop a healthy lifestyle to obtain a normal, healthy life.”
Kathryn (Kathy) Burnett
Age: 48
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married to Jason with a son, Noah, and daughter, Emilee
Height: 5-5
Weight: 247
“I had several reasons why I wanted to participate in Healthy U. I’m fat, unhealthy, diabetic and plain tired. I needed a plan to undo these things because I wanted to be around, and the closer I got to 50 the more I realized I had to change. I was giving all my bad habits to my children and I believe they were entrusted to me to do better than what I was showing them. I believe things happen for a reason and Healthy U came along for a reason!”
Richard DeFord
Age: 40
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married with three children
Height: 5-9
Weight: 338
“I have often looked ahead and been able to imagine myself at various life points, such as my sons’ graduations, marriages, etc. I came face to face with the realization, that no matter how hard I tried, I could not see my 2-year-old daughter’s graduation.”
Brian Jackson
Age: 39
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Single
Height: 6-0
Weight: 546
“This is going to be a year of change for me. I am turning 40 and it was time to get many aspects of my life in order. My weight is one of the biggest things I want to change. The opportunity to participate in the program is amazing.”
Alicia Maggert
Age: 32
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Single
Height: 5-4
Weight: 260
“When I got the application I knew that I wanted to be a part of Healthy U. What a better way to motivate myself and my family into being healthier. I knew it was time to make a change! I am very excited!”
Chris Pummill
Age: 30
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married to Nichole with three stepchildren, Hailee, 9, Niklas, 6, and Madee, 3
Height: 6-2
Weight: 375
“I joined Healthy U because I wanted a lifestyle change that I have wanted for a long time. Also, I want to be around a long time for my wife and watch my stepkids grow up with a healthy stepfather.”
Leticia (Letty) Rodriguez
Age: 39
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married
Height: 5-5
Weight: 214
“I decided to participate in the Healthy U challenge because I want to learn how to eat healthy and be there for my family. I had gestational diabetes with my last pregnancy and I am very afraid of being a diabetic. My grandmother died weighing more than 350 pounds; my mother is over 230 pounds and has many health issues. I want to show my daughter that healthy eating and moving more can make a difference in my life and in the lives of other people that I can inspire.”
Bob Satnan
Age: 48
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married to Melany with two children
Height: 6-1
Weight: 327
“It is time to stop being tired. It is time to be able to walk a couple of flights of stairs without being winded. It is time to move more and eat less. It is time to make healthy choices. It is time to stop making excuses. It is time.”
Amy Schneider
Age: 31
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married to Eric with two sons, Ezra, 7, and Ephraim, 5
Height: 5-4
Weight: 224
“I experienced my rock bottom moment and it was devastating. My goal with Healthy U is to really learn the essentials needed to benefit my whole family. As a stay-at-home mom, I realized that I had to include myself in the priority list. My family needs me to be here for them.”
Robin Wollard
Age: 50
Residence: Sedalia
Family: Married with son, 22, and daughter, 20
Height: 5-5
Weight: 237
“I was intrigued by the ripple effect this project could have in our community as much as I was inspired to improve my personal health. I see and feel the consequences obesity can have on the human body. I aspire to be a good role model for a healthy lifestyle.”
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