Agenda - 11-05-2003-8g - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Healthy Way: A Weight Manaqement Program for Adults This program began ten years ago at the Rex Wellness Center and has evolved into a multi- dimensional approach for weight management that is geared to enhancing overall well-being. The UNC Wellness Center will also be piloting the program. The Health Department Nutritionist has been working with Rex Hospital and the UNC Wellness Center to update the curriculum for the adult program entitled "The Healthy Way". There are no programs like this in the northern area of the County. The program includes 12 weekly, one-hour group discussion and educational sessions facilitated by a registered dietitian or health educator. Thirty minutes of exercise facilitated by an exercise physiologist follows the educational sessions each week. Since Orange County does not have an exercise physiologist, this component will include establishing weekly goals for walking/physical activity sessions. Each participant will receive a pedometer that will be used to measure walking activity. Research indicates that accumulating 10,000 steps a day will provide the same health benefits associated with regular physical activity. Each participant receives one individual consultation with the registered dietitian to determine nutritional goals and program set-up. A medical release form will be required for participation. Pre and post measures of change include: attitude survey, weight, resting blood pressure, body mass index, resting heart rate, circumference measurements (hips or waist), and aerobic exercise. The fee for the program has been established at $120 or $10 per week for 12 sessions. This will enable the department to recover the costs for the pedometer, duplication of the curriculum, and demonstrations on preparing healthy foods. This is a greatly reduced price from that offered by the Rex Wellness Center and the UNC Wellness Center ($215 for members, $315 for non-members). However, the County does not have the exercise physiologist as part of the program. The pilot program is proposed to begin in January 2004 and will be marketed to Orange County employees as the initial group. Based on the results of that pilot, the department will evaluate whether to continue the program with other targeted groups. BodyWorks: A Weight Manaqement Proqram for Adolescents and Teens BodyWorks is a 10-week family-based weight management program, developed by an interdisciplinary group of health professionals to combat the increasing incidence of adolescent obesity. Dr. Sharon Van Horn, a local physician and Board of Health member, was part of the state team that modified the curriculum for North Carolina. The North Carolina Division of Public Health has field-tested the program and it has been successfully implemented in Wake County through the health department. Unlike programs based on diet and exercise, BodyWorks identifies and treats the underlying contributors to obesity and provides families with the skills needed to succeed at long-term weight management. Since BodyWorks is both an educational program and a clinical treatment for adolescent obesity„ it is implemented by a mental health clinician and aregistered/licensed dietitian. Both of these individuals are currently on staff at the Health Department. Nutrition and exercise components are included in each session. Pre and post measures of change include: survey to test knowledge of healthy eating, lifestyle and body image and six and twelve month follow-up telephone interviews to assess effectiveness. Renee Kemske, the Health Department Nutritionist, is working with the Health Education Coordinator in the Orange County School system to mutually select a middle school or a high school for the project pilot.