“FitnessWise” Program

About the Program

Wayne County’s FitnessWise Program is a campaign to promote better nutrition and more physical activity among the 2.1 million residents living in Wayne County. Overweight is a critical health issue in America. According to the Michigan Department of Community Health, Wayne County has the highest number of residents that are considered overweight than any other county in Michigan - 34.6 %; some communities within Wayne County are significantly higher: Downriver [37.9%]; Hamtramck [38.4%] and Highland Park [39.6%]. Excessive weight gain in children is an alarming trend in the U.S. Recent data from the National Center for Health Statistics indicate that approximately one in five children in the U.S. are overweight.

The FitnessWise Program is designed to create public awareness of this staggering problem in Wayne County and to develop approaches to promote healthier lifestyles among children, parents and caregivers. The program will develop and distribute culturally competent multi-lingual services that will encourage healthy behaviors among County residents.

Program Goals:

• Provide Wayne County residents with factual information about cardiovascular disease [CVD] risk factors, mortality, morbidity rates and economic burden caused by CVD risk factors.
• Inform Wayne County residents through community wide, culturally competent prevention messages promoting good nutrition, physical activity and healthy weight reading materials.
• Work in partnership with the Wayne County communities through the media to promote healthy eating, and healthy living messages in high-risk communities.
• Encourage health care systems and providers to develop and promote culturally competent healthy eating, healthy weight and physical activity programs, by encouraging regular screening programs in communities at risk for CVD.
• Increase healthy eating habits and physical activity by providing lifelong skills necessary in the promotion of health and prevention of CVD.
• Evaluate the success of countywide culturally competent, media messages in the promotion of healthy eating, weight and physical activity.

The Importance of Physical Activity
Regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk of dying or coronary heart disease and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes and high blood pressure. It also helps to relieve the pain of arthritis, reduces symptoms of anxiety and depression, helps to control weight, and is associated with fewer hospitalizations, physician visits and medications. Moreover, physical activity need not be strenuous to be beneficial; people of all ages benefit from participating in regular, moderate-intensity physical activity, such as 30 minutes of brisk walking five or more times a week.

Tips for Being More Active
There are 1,440 minutes in every day. Schedule 30 of them for physical activity. With a little creativity and planning, even the person with the busiest schedule can make room for physical activity. Consider these exercise suggestions:

• Walk, cycle, jog or skate to work, school, the store, or place of worship
• Park the car farther away from your destination
• Get on or off the bus several blocks away
• Take the stairs instead of the elevator or escalator

The Importance of Nutrition
Selecting and eating healthy foods may have a positive impact on your overall health. If your goal is to lose or maintain healthy weight, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends the following:

• Eat a variety of foods, including plenty of vegetables, fruits and whole grains
• Consume low-fat dairy products, lean meats, poultry, fish and legumes
• Drink lots of water
• Go easy on the salt, sugar, alcohol and saturated fat

Prepare and Eat Meals & Snacks at Home
Preparing meals and snacks at home is a great way to save money and eat healthy. When preparing meals, choose low fat / low calorie versions of your favorite ingredients and learn how easy it is to substitute. For example:

• Switch to 1% or nonfat and low-fat cheeses.
• Use a cooking spray instead of oil or butter to decrease the amount of fat when you cook.
• Prepare baked potatoes with low-fat blue cheese dressing or low-fat plain yogurt instead of butter or sour cream.

Also, choose snacks that are nutritious and filling. A piece of fresh fruit, cut raw vegetables, or a container of low-fat yogurt are excellent choices to tide you over until mealtimes. Take these snacks with you for a healthy alternative to chips, cookies or candy.

FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CALL: 734-727-7000

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