(image: Healthy Richland logo - healthyrichland.org)

• Mission
  • The mission of Healthy Richland is to foster countywide collaboration among Palmetto Health and community partners to encourage healthy weight, nutrition and physical activity, and to decrease the burden of obesity-related chronic diseases among Richland County residents.

• The Problem
  • Heart Disease is the leading cause of death in Richland County
  • SC has one of the highest rates of Diabetes in the United States
  • In 2005, South Carolina had the 4th worst obesity rate in the nation. This is an increase from 13th in 2003.
  • 57.2% of Richland County residents are overweight
  • 58% of Richland County residents are physically inactive
  • 68.7% of Richland County residents consume <5 fruits and vegetables per day

BRFSS Data-SC DHEC

• The Intervention
  • Healthy Richland is a countywide collaboration among Palmetto Health and community partners to encourage healthy weight management, good nutrition and physical activity
  • Partners include Richland County Government, The City of Columbia and The University of South Carolina.
  • This multi-focus program includes education for children, teens and adults

• Type 2 We're on to You
• We Can! Nutrition Education Sessions
• Healthy Campus
• Healthy Richland Walking Program
• Healthy Richland Worksite Award
• Healthy Richland Website

• Problem
  • Nationally, overweight rates in children ages 6-11 have tripled since the late 1970s, while rates for adolescents ages 12-19 have more than doubled in the same time period. ⁽¹⁾
  • If current trends continue, 1 out of every 3 children born in 2000 will be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, primarily due to a poor diet and lack of physical activity. ⁽²⁾
  • In SC only 34.2% of middle school students were physically active for a total of 60 minutes or more per day at least 5 days per week.
• Intervention
  • Health education classes focusing on diabetes, nutrition and physical activity for fifth-grade students. This six-session course is offered at local schools and churches.

1. Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Health Statistics. (2000). NHANES IV short report
2. Vehkat Narayan, K. The Journal of the American Medical Association, Oct. 8, 2003;vol 290:pp 1884-1890.

• Outcomes
  • 272 students from 3 schools have participated in the program since 2005.
  • Students demonstrated comprehension of terms such as glucose, calories, insulin and pancreas.
  • Parents report that students have become more health conscious and are influencing healthier food choices and activity in the home.
  • More students reported getting between 30 and 60 minutes of physical activity per day

Created by Lorri Carter, RD, CSR, LD, CDE Diabetes Center of Excellence Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Sponsored by Novaris US Foundation and the VHA Health Foundation

(image: bar graph titled "At Least 2 Servings of Fruit and Veggies Per Day" illustrating a positive impact of intervention on students consumption of fruit and vegetables)

• Problem
  • Children and adults are more overweight and obese now than any other time in history. Parents have asked for more information regarding proper nutrition and physical activity for their children.
• Intervention
  • WE CAN! Is a unique educational tool from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), that focuses on teaching parents how to develop healthy lifestyles for the family.
• Outcomes
  • We've taught this as an after school class at one participating school. Parents demonstrated understanding of information through some lifestyle changes.

• Problem
  • The freshman 15 has grown to the freshman 30. College freshman are more overweight and inactive than in the past.
• Intervention
  • Health education classes focusing on nutrition and physical activity for college freshman. Session topics include Nutrition 101, Physical Activity 101, Diabetes-What to Know Head to Toe and Hypertension 101

• Outcomes
  • 339 students have participated in the Healthy Campus program
  • Over 61 students have lost weight through the program
  • Reported weight loss has been from .5 to 22 pounds
  • Students report being more aware of health issues related to poor nutrition and physical activity
  • Students also report making changes to dietary habits and adding physical activity to their lifestyles

• Participating Schools
  • Allen University
  • Benedict College
  • Midlands Technical College

• Problem
  • Many adults want to make changes and incorporate more physical activity into their lifestyle. They report that they want to make changes but do not know where to start.
  • Prevalence of overweight and obesity among adults is on the rise. From 1976 to 2004, prevalence of overweight increased from 47% to 66.2%. During the same time frame obesity increased from 15% to 32.9%.

• Intervention
  • The Healthy Richland Walking Program is an incentive based walking program. Healthy Richland Walkers receive pedometers to track their steps and report their progress in order to receive incentives.

• Outcomes
  • To date 1801 people are registered Healthy Richland Walkers
  • The average daily baseline number of steps per walker is 7088

• Healthy Richland Walkers have walked close to 37 million steps since 2005-that equals 18,500 miles-enough miles to walk around the earth 2.3 times!

(image: drawing of man with a flag on top of the world)

• These awards recognize Richland County employers that demonstrate a commitment to employee health by incorporating comprehensive worksite health promotion and other wellness programs.
• Gold, Silver and Bronze award winners were announced on Saturday, April 29^th at the 2^nd Annual Healthy Richland Walk

• The Healthy Richland Website provides information on good nutrition and physical activity
• Residents can also sign up for the Walking Program via the website

• Children to participate by having a carrot naming contest at the 3rd Annual Healthy Richland Walk in April, 2007
• Establish "walking clubs" in different neighborhoods and parks to encourage more participation in the walking program.
• Establish collaboration with more elementary schools and colleges for the different programs