›› Owensboro
Owensboro Regional Strategic Forum on Obesity -- Executive Summary
Prevention of obesity requires communities to work together to create environments that promote healthy eating and physically active lifestyles. In order to the reach the goals of the state’s Nutrition and Physical Activity Action Plan, the Kentucky Department for Public Health is working with regional communities to coordinate grassroots efforts in addressing the obesity issue.
The first regional forum was conducted in Owensboro on August 30th. Thirty-five participants, representing 5 counties and at least 9 different venues were present. Participants involved employees from the Green River District Health Department, Owensboro YMCA, Owensboro and Daviess Co Parks and Recreation Departments, School districts and local colleges, Cooperative Extension Service, Delta Project of the Trover Foundation, area hospital systems, Daviess Co Commissioners and the City of Owensboro employees.
From the review of the State Action Plan and the current regional obesity programs, participants were asked to review and discuss key strategies that could have the most impact in the shortest amount of time. Participants evaluated the strategies in four areas; Physical Activity-Schools and Parks, Physical Activity-Community and Workplace; Fruit and Vegetable Consumption, Breastfeeding Initiatives.
›› Upcoming Events 2008
October 3 and 4 Owensboro - ACDC Adult Day Camp
The Activating Citizens of Daviess County (ACDC) Adult Day Camp will be October 3 and 4 in Owensboro. The ACDC collaborative group is composed of the Green River District Health Department, Owensboro Family YMCA, OMHS HealthPark, Daviess County Cooperative Extension
Service office, Daviess County Diabetes Coalition, and the Kentucky Office for the Blind. The event’s underwriting sponsors are Novo Nordisk and the American Diabetes Association. Participants will be organized into two teams each with their own fitness and nutrition coach.
The October 3 - 4 Day Camp and ensuing 6 weeks of coaching will provide each participant with the skills, knowledge and guidance to enable them to get fit and stay fit. The program runs through November 20. Contact Jaime Ford at the Owensboro Family YMCA at 270-926-9622 or by email at jaime@owensboroymca.org. The cost is $15 per participant which includes complimentary access to the facilities at the YMCA for the six week coaching period.
October 12th Second Sunday
The Cooperative Extension Service office of Daviess County is holding the “Second Sunday” event from 2-5 pm with registration beginning at 1:30 pm at Ben Hawes State Park. Medley Road from the park entrance to Industrial Drive will be closed to vehicle traffic allowing cyclists, in-line skaters, runners and walkers to enjoy the scenic 1.8 mile long stretch of city streets. The event is free to the public.
›› Noteworthy News
A study published online in the American Journal of Public Health suggests that time spent in physical education classes does not detract from elementary school students' academic achievement and may boost girls' test scores, USA Today reports. To assess the relationship between P.E. duration and academic success, researchers from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention evaluated over 5,000 students in kindergarten through fifth grade. They found that girls who participated in 70 to 300 minutes of P.E. per week consistently scored higher on standardized math and reading tests than girls who participated in 35 minutes or less of P.E. weekly. Researchers did not see a significant difference among boys, noting that boys are generally more active than girls and may need a higher level of physical activity to yield the same academic benefits. According to lead author Susan Carlson, the findings confirm on a national scale the results of smaller, localized studies finding that P.E. is associated with improved academic performance. Carlson adds that increased P.E. may be a good strategy for boosting test scores in schools, as well as limiting disruptive classroom behavior. Noting that schools under pressure to raise students' reading and math test scores continue to limit P.E., the researchers conclude that "concerns about adverse effects on achievement may not be legitimate reasons to limit physical education programs" (Terwilliger, USA Today, 3/4/08; Carlson et al., American Journal of Public Health, March 2008 [subscription required]).
March 23rd 2009, Get Fit West Kentucky quarterly meeting- The meeting will be from 11-1 at Henderson Methodist Hospital in the North Tower’s 6th floor meeting room. A big thanks to Karen Hill and Susan Hughes for hosting this event.
Activating Citizens of Daviess County- “Helping you get” Fit and stay Fit!” will run from April 13-May 18. This 6 week fitness and education program is a partnership involving the Daviess county Diabetes Coalition, Owensboro Family YMCA, the American Diabetes Association, Kentucky Office of the Blind, and the Green River District Health Department. The registration deadline is April 6th. Contact the YMCA at 270-926-YMCA for registration information.
Daviess County Public Schools is one of six districts the CDC selected from more than 80 nominated to participate in a national study to learn more about the coordinated school health program.
A coordinated school health program pulls in school staff, administrators, families and the community," said Catherine Rasberry, a health scientist with the CDC's DASH. "We think Daviess County has an exceptionally strong district-level school health program." (from the Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer 3/10/2009)
2nd annual Hilliard Lyons Health and Fitness Classic- This event features a 2K Walk, 5K and 10K runs, 30 K Bicycle Ride, and the Green River Health and Fitness Expo. Go to the Classic’s website,
Hilliard Lyons Health and Fitness Classic for details
›› Links
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For more information about this effort, please contact:
Debbie Fillman
Deborah.Fillman@ky.gov
Marianne Smith-Edge
msedge@smithedge.com
For information or questions related to this website, please contact:
Don Crask
donald.crask@ky.gov