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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
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| Public Motivation Campaign Asks Kansans to “change something.SM” |
Small changes in nutrition and physical activity add up to healthier lifestyles
| WICHITA, Kan. – What if the best parking spot wasn’t the closest to the door? What if the American classic cheeseburger wasn’t served with fries, but green beans instead? These are the kind of small changes the Kansas Health Foundation is asking Kansans to make in their new public motivation campaign, “change something.” that launches September 9.
“You don’t have to change everything to live healthier, just change something,” said Marni Vliet, president & CEO of the Kansas Health Foundation. “The ‘change something.’ campaign serves as a reminder that opportunities exist all around us to be more physically active and incorporate healthier eating habits. It can be as easy as trying a new fruit or taking the family for a walk to the park. Simple, daily changes like these can add up to healthier lifestyles and improve the health outlook for Kansans.”
Recent studies give a clearer view of the health issues facing Kansans. New data confirms that Kansas ranks as the 26th heaviest state in the nation.
One report also found that 81.2 percent of adults in Kansas do not consume five or more servings of fruits and vegetables per day, while more than half do not meet the recommended guidelines for moderate physical activity.
Making healthy changes could not only improve the health of Kansas adults, but these changes will make an impact on the development of our children, too.
“The most amazing thing we’ve found is that one small positive change can promote more changes,” said Dr. James Early, clinical associate professor for the KU School of Medicine. “And making one small change as a parent, where your children can watch, is one of the most positive things you can do for a child. It’s the children seeing us change, and seeing we’re not stuck, that allows them to grow even better.”
The “change something.” campaign illustrates little changes that can be incorporated into busy, everyday lives. Examples include taking the stairs instead of the elevator, eating an apple instead of drinking a soda and walking to a colleague’s desk rather than emailing.
“With the ‘change something.’ campaign, we hope to inspire adults to live healthier and happier, and to pass their healthy habits on to their children and grandchildren,” said Vliet. “We all know that change takes work, but it can be fun, too. Imagine gathering the family together for an after-dinner walk. Not only can you encourage physical activity, but you can catch up on what your children discovered at school that day. Changing something can be good for the mind, body and soul.”
To demonstrate a change in action, the Kansas Health Foundation is celebrating the launch of the “change something.” campaign by hosting a free Frozen Yogurt Social for the city of Wichita at Exploration Place Park on Saturday, September 9 from 2 to 4 p.m. The event is a twist on the traditional ice cream social. That same day, the campaign will appear statewide on TV and radio commercials, billboards, grassroots activity, a Web site (www.changesomething.org) and blog ( changesomething.typepad.com). Spend time catching up with a friend on an evening walk.- Graze on healthy snacks. Fresh fruit, yogurt, granola bars.
- Take the stairs.
- Eat on smaller plates to help control the portions you take.
- Organize a pedometer competition. See who can walk the most in a week.
- Skip the chocolate syrup on your next bowl of ice cream. Better yet, bowl of frozen yogurt.
Trust for America’s Health, “America’s Obesity Epidemic Getting Worse; New Report Finds Adult Obesity Rates Up in 31 States; the South is the ‘Biggest Belt’.”August 29, 2006. ( http://healthyamericans.org/newsroom/releases/release082906.pdf) |
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| About the Kansas Health Foundation: The Kansas Health Foundation is a private philanthropy dedicated to improving the health of all Kansans. Based in Wichita, the Foundation pays out approximately $23 million annually in four major funding categories: Children's Health, Leadership, Public Health and Policy. For more information about the Kansas Health Foundation, visit www.kansashealth.org. |
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