Coalition continues to promote active lifestyles

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For a free copy of the Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network's Get Moving Guide, contact the network at 564-3371 or 1-800-388-0199 or access an online copy for Clinton, Essex and Franklin counties at www.eahcn.org.

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May 5, 2010

Coalition continues to promote active lifestyles

By JEFF MEYERS Staff Writer

PLATTSBURGH - Finding healthy activities is becoming easier as community leaders continue to stress the connection between active lifestyles and good health.

Mobilizing for Action Through Planning and Partnership (MAPP), a group of health, business and government leaders from dozens of regional agencies has been working over the past several years to promote healthy lifestyles and reduce chronic disease.

Those efforts are now turning into concrete examples of programs clearly designed to help residents find fun and healthy things to do in their communities.

ACTION PLAN

"When this group (the Action for Health Committee) was put in place to address issues related to chronic disease, we made a commitment to put together an action plan," said Laurie Williams of the Clinton County Health Department.

"We've come up with 25 tangible, measurable objectives, including nutrition, tobacco, physical activities" and what they call "built environment," the process of incorporating public access to such projects as walking trails in community-development plans.

"We continue to work very hard on many different objectives," Williams said.

Smoking

One of the group's initiatives that has recently been translated into an active program is the City of Plattsburgh's smoking ban at public outdoor facilities, such as parks, walking trails and the City Beach.

"Some of the negative feedback we've heard is that we're violating the rights of smokers, but that's not the case at all," said Steve Peters, superintendent of the city's Recreation Department.

"We look at it as a way to have a positive influence, to set a good example for children."

According to 2009 statistics, 21.7 percent of all adults in Clinton County still smoke, which exceeds the state smoking rate of 17 percent.

Committee members believe that restrictions such as the city ban will promote smoking-cessation programs and help people find a way to curb their smoking habits.

Obesity

Obesity is another target the group has placed in its sights. According to Health Department statistics, one-third of the North Country's residents are obese, about 10 percent higher than the statewide rate at 23.1 percent.

The statewide goal is to reduce obesity to 15 percent, Williams noted.

"Simple changes people make in their daily lives can make a difference. If you can fit in 30 minutes of exercise every day, you'll see the difference."

Lee Vera, from the Eastern Adirondack Health Care Network, has developed a "Get Moving" guide to promote activities available to people across the region.

"Our focus is to highlight the activities people can get involved in without having to pay - different places to walk, community gardens, places people can go to find activities."

Projects like the city's Biggest Loser contest and the proposed Saranac River Trail are just a couple of the local examples of an increased emphasis on active lifestyles, Peters added.

COMMUNITY HEALTH

The group is also actively promoting its cause through advertising and word of mouth.

"We will see a great return on our investment with a healthier community," said Clinton County Legislator Sarah Rowden, who constantly promotes the group's efforts through her role in government.

"As legislators, we're always looking for things that will draw people to our communities. We're all talking about the same things: What makes a community healthy and attractive?"

With increased physical activity, improved diet and a decline in unhealthy habits like smoking, officials expect to see correlating declines in such chronic diseases as diabetes.

The group sees it as a battle the community can win, if everyone works together.

E-mail Jeff Meyers at: jmeyers@pressrepublican.com Diabetes talk opens annual LaMariana community lecture

The Foundation of CVPH and Diabetes Education Center at CVPH will honor the late Angelo LaMariana with the Angelo LaMariana Memorial Education Program May 18. Dr. Jack Leahy of Fletcher Allen Health Care will talk about what those with diabetes should know in managing their disease.

May 4, 2010 1 Photo Health Notes: May 4, 2010

Gastric Bypass Group meets tonight; Red Cross seeks blood donors; Fibromyalgia Group to meet; Diabetes classes to begin; Session to explore meditation.

May 4, 2010 Brothers discuss dad's dementia, difficult decisions

Chris and Tim Bourgeois worked tirelessly to keep their father, Leo, at home as his health deteriorated with age, but they finally realized that 24-hour nursing care was an option that would help both them and their father.

April 28, 2010 1 Photo Qigong

The Health and Wellness Center at PARC is offering an eight-week course utilizing the meditative procedure qigong to promote the body's energy flow.

April 27, 2010 2 Photos Health Notes: April 27, 2010

Pediatric wellness event set; Class to teach CPR; Asthma Coalition to meet; WIC clinics scheduled; Red Cross seeks blood donors; Stigma Walk-a-thon set for May 7.

April 27, 2010 Domestic-violence awareness focus of college event

Center for Women's Concerns at Plattsburgh State sponsoring "die-in," annual march.

April 25, 2010

Additional information:

Exercise puts smokers off ciggies Top News
Exercise Delays Pulmonary Function Decline in Smokers and Nonsmokers
Smokers exercise right to smoke at home
Exercise can do a smoker's body good Page 2 Los Angeles Times
Aerobics
First Brain Study Reveals Benefits Of Exercise On Quitting Smoking
Health News: Exercise Helps Slow Smokers Lung Function Decline
Exercise Makes Cigarettes Less Attractive To Smokers Stop smoking
Study: Exercise Cuts Lung Cancer Risk by 45 in Ex- Smokers True
Exercise makes cigarettes less attractive to smokers
http://pressrepublican.com/080...

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