Lite'n Up program
Jordan, T.
Journal of the Kentucky Medical Association 106(3): 114-117
2008
ISSN/ISBN: 0023-0294 PMID: 18488970 Document Number: 623531
Kentucky faces high rates of adult obesity and physical inactivity. Concerned with the associated health risks (ie, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, some cancers) and community-wide consequences (ie, high healthcare costs, increased absenteeism, and increased work-related injury) accompanying physical inactivity and adult obesity, community organizations partnered together to educate and encourage community members to make lifestyle changes. Lite'n Up Hopkins County provides program participants with a baseline physical activity assessment, health education, and follow-up assessment. Walk'n Kentucky provides community members with an avenue to increase daily physical activity and receive health education information. Current program results include (a) Walk'n Kentucky participants have walked over 20,533 miles; (b) three Walk'n Kentucky participants lost between 13 and 31 pounds; (c) 70% of Lite'n Up high school participants completing both assessments have improved their best mile times; (d) of those high school students completing both Lite'n Up assessments with BMIs categorized as at risk or potentially overweight, 2.4% improved from potentially overweight to at risk BMI classifications, 1.6% changed from overweight to healthy BMI classifications, and 1.6% changed from at risk to healthy weight BMI classifications; (e) 95% of middle school students participating in both Lite'n Up assessments saw improvements in their best mile times. Program challenges included (a) limited participation in second assessments of the community-at-large based Lite'n Up program, and (b) scheduling challenges in the high school and middle school programs.