LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy unveiled in February the state’s Teen Focused Obesity Prevention Campaign, a comprehensive multimedia campaign designed as a tool to help reduce obesity rates. The project begins with obesity
LIHU‘E — Gov. Neil Abercrombie and Department of Health Director Loretta Fuddy unveiled in February the state’s Teen Focused Obesity Prevention Campaign, a comprehensive multimedia campaign designed as a tool to help reduce obesity rates.
The project begins with obesity prevention and healthy living videos aimed at youth on a YouTube page created by Start Living Healthy Hawai‘i.
“Although Get Fit Kaua‘i does not just focus on teens ages 12 to 18, the coalition most definitely supports the governor’s campaign and is doing its part with obesity prevention programs island-wide that involve systemic and environmental changes,” said Bev Brody, the Health and Built Environment Project facilitator at Get Fit Kaua‘i.
The YouTube site has two “Rethink Your Drink” videos that provide a youth-oriented message on consumption of sugary drinks, which is highest among teens. A staggering 93 percent of teens reported they drank at least one soda in the past week, and around 48 percent say they drink at least one sugary beverage per day. The ads note that one per day could lead to a 10-pound weight gain per year.
Three “Olelo Youth XChange” videos are the result of a statewide student video competition. The DOH selected three finalists, and their videos were posted on YouTube and in ads around the state.
The three PSA videos include: “It Makes You Fat”, “Intervention” and “The Healthiest Man in the World.”
The original videos — “Every Day In Hawai‘i,” Parts 1 and 2 — explain the obesity epidemic nationally and in Hawai‘i. It emphasizes that for many, obesity begins as a youth with consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages or lack of physical activity, among other causes.
The messages in the campaign counter the attractive promotion of unhealthy foods and drinks that are popular with teens, Brody said. The campaign is being broadcast statewide, including print ads in all malls, the Kaua‘i Bus, on the radio and local TV stations.
“We envision a future for Kaua‘i County in which all residents are physically active, eat healthy foods and live in healthy, active communities,” she said. “Our mission is to improve the quality of life of the residents and visitors of Kaua‘i County by working to promote opportunities for physical activity and access to healthy foods.”
Get Fit Kaua‘i is funded by the State Department of Health’s “Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative,” through a contract with the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa’s Office of Public Health Studies, John A. Burns School of Medicine.
Get Fit Kaua‘i Worksite Projects include the Mayor’s Walking Workbus and On the Road to Wellness Challenge. Other projects include Countywide Safe Routes to School, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, Eat Better Today, and the Complete Streets policy and ordinance concept.
Kaua‘i Schools Superintendent Bill Arakaki said he started his career in education as a physical education and health resource teacher. At the time there was not much importance placed on the position, he said, but times have changed, he said.
Today, Arakaki said, Kaua‘i public schools are of great importance in the role of Nancy Graf, the district resource teacher for physical education and health.
“Nancy Graf has been working for many years supporting physical activity and trying to curve obesity with county and school programs,” Arakaki said. “We are doing things related to that.”
Graf said she is paid by the Department of Education, however, the salary for her position comes from the Tobacco Settlement Fund through the Department of Health, and provides support to Brody at Get Fit Kaua‘i under the program Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative.
“I provide curriculum and instruction to the teachers in the field of health and physical education,” Graf said.
All island schools have at least one teacher in grades kindergarten to 5th grade, who specialize in addressing health, nutrition and physical activity, she said. This is in accordance with state health and physical education standards and benchmarks.
At middle school and high school levels, Graf said there are subject-specific teachers who provide health and physical education. The teachers help out with the Safe Routes to School plan at elementary schools to encourage a walk to school at least once a month.
The next walk to school day is March 13. The school year will conclude with walks on April 10 and May 8.
All Healthy Hawai‘i Initiative projects are part of a goal to reduce the burden of disease, increase the quality and years of healthy life and reduce health disparities. To reach those goals, creating healthier designed communities that support and encourage physical activity by creating a more walkable and bikeable island.
The public is invited to attend the many health classes at Ho‘ola La Hui (hoolalahui.org), which was designated as a Kaua‘i Health Care System for native Hawaiians and for all people of Kaua‘i.
With its own fitness center, Ho‘ola La Hui is at 3-3204 Kuhio Highway. There are cardio machines and other exercise equipment available on a sign-in basis during business hours Monday through Friday.
