Jeffco Wears Red and a little Orange and Blue

Jefferson County employees are gathering for a picture in recognition of National Wear Red Day on Friday, February 5, 2016 in the atrium of the Courts and Administration building.  The day also provides an opportunity to support our superbowl bound Broncos, thus come in orange and blue if you like and we will provide the red.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. In fact, someone in the U.S. has a heart attack every 43 seconds. Each minute, someone in the U.S. dies from a heart disease-related event.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention approximately 610,000 people die from heart disease each year in the United States.  Despite the numbers, heart disease is preventable and manageable.

Tackling known risk factors such as tobacco use, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity and inactive lifestyle  can greatly reduce risks for illness and death from heart disease.

·         For more information on heart disease and prevention, please visit the American Heart Association .

·         Act in Time! Learn the warning signs and the importance of calling 9-1-1 immediately at the onset of symptoms.

·         The health department also has handouts and other educational materials on heart health and reducing your risk factors.

·         Learn more about current healthy eating and active living work occurring within Jefferson County and/or get involved in the Jeffco Community Health Improvement Network: A group of multi-disciplinary coalitions in Jefferson County, Colorado working together to increase physical activity, healthy eating, and psychosocial well-being among low-income families with children ages 0-18. Visit the Network website,  Healthy People Healthy Places Jeffco , for more information about the Network and the six CoINs (Coalitions Integrated into the Network).

Please visit our web site at  jeffco.us/public-health  for more information.

Help Your Child Stay at a Healthy Weight

One in 3 children in the United States is overweight or obese. Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, like type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease. September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and Jefferson County Public Health encourages families to make healthy changes together. Childhood obesity can be prevented.

• Get active outside: Walk around the neighborhood, go on a bike ride, or play at the park. Jeffco Open Space and Parks offers diverse trails and outdoor activities for everyone to enjoy.
  
• Limit screen time: Keep screen time (time spent on the computer, watching TV, or playing video games) to 2 hours or less a day. Check out these tips for helping your family limit screen time.
  
• Make healthy meals: Buy and serve more vegetables, fruits, and whole-grain foods. Livewell Colorado also offers tips for buying and eating healthy and includes healthy recipes.
  
• Become a part of WE CAN, a national initiative to reduce childhood obesity.

Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) is working with parents, schools, policymakers, communities, businesses and others to improve active living and healthy eating for everyone in Jefferson County. JCPH has provided technical assistance to several municipalities in Jefferson County as they adopt policies that improve their communities’ access to physical activity and healthy food. Learn more about the Livewell Colorado HEAL (Healthy Eating and Active Living) Cities and Towns Campaign Please view our community health improvement plan at www.healthypeoplehealthyplacesjeffco.com.

Children’s Diets a Prescription for Ill Health

Did you know that more than 1/3 of American children and adolescents ages 6 to 19 are overweight or obese? How about that, children consume twice the recommended amount of sodium per day? High sodium intake is associated with the risk of high blood pressure in children and adolescents and may raise blood pressure even in infants. Most of the sodium Americans eat is found in processed foods. Fresh foods are generally lower in sodium, so eat more fresh foods! We all can improve health by making healthier food choices.

Food Day is a nationwide celebration of healthy, affordable, and sustainably produced food and a grassroots campaign for better food policies. Food day works throughout the year to educate and build support around healthy food policies and culminates each year on October 24 with events held across the country. View this Food Day Infographic on Children’s Diets to learn more. Download this educational handout with tips for reducing salt and sodium intake. Visit the JCPH Nutritional Services web page and begin making healthier food choices today.

Rethink Your Drink

Extra calories from added sugar—like those in sugary drinks— contribute significantly to overweight and obesity. In fact, sugary drinks are the largest contributor of added sugar in the diet. Public health encourages everyone to drink water. Every system in your body depends on water, it helps flush toxins from your body, carries nutrients to your cells, and aids in many other important functions. Download the JCPH sugar shockers flyer. Download the Rethink Your Drink flyer. Check out these Rethink your drink recipe from California: Cumcumber Mint Breeze or Strawberry Pineapple Lemonade.

Too Fat to Fight . . . Obesity and Overweight just might be a National Security Issue

Obese and overweight are not the way to be if you want to join the army. MISSION READINESS, a national nonprofit group of retired generals and admirals wants people to know that obesity and overweight just might be a national security issue. National surveys conducted for the military indicate that approximately one in four young adults is unable to serve because of excess body fat. Poor nutrition and a lack of physical exercise not only leave many young people too heavy to join but they also create challenges for those accepted, such as increased strains or fractures. According to a Pentagon study, the number of Army soldiers booted for being overweight has jumped tenfold in the past five years from 168 in 2008 to 1,815. In the Marine Corps, the figure nearly doubled from 102 in 2010 to 186 in 2011 but dropped to 132 last year.

• Learn more: Still too Fat to Fight. (http://missionreadiness.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/Still-Too-Fat-To-Fight-Report.pdf
  
• A Message from America’s Retired Generals, Admirals and Civilian Military Leaders: http://cdn.missionreadiness.org/MR_Too_Fat_to_Fight-1.pdf

Prediabetes . . . Are you at risk?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as many as 1 of every 3 U.S. adults has prediabetes. That is approximately 79 million Americans aged 20 years or older living with prediabetes, and most of them don’t know they have it. A person with prediabetes has a blood sugar level higher than normal, but not high enough for a diagnosis of diabetes.

Prediabetes is a serious health condition that increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. Without lifestyle changes to improve their health, 15% to 30% of people with prediabetes will develop type 2 diabetes within 5 years. Prediabetes does not have to lead to type 2 diabetes. Colorado is one of many states participating in the CDC-led National Diabetes Prevention Program, an evidence-based lifestyle change program for preventing type 2 diabetes. This program is now being offered at work places and community-based organizations across Colorado and has been shown to prevent or delay the onset of type 2 diabetes. To learn more about the Diabetes Prevention Program and where programs are located throughout Colorado, please visit the website or call 1-800-DIABETES.

A recent community health assessment conducted in Jefferson County shows that from 2001 to 2010 there was an 89% increase in diabetes among adults in Jefferson County. This is just one of the many health trends we hope to reverse in the coming years with our community health improvement plan. Find out how you can get involved in creating a healthier Jefferson County, Colorado at www.healthypeoplehealthyplacesjeffco.com.

Poll: Few Americans know all the risks of overweight/obesity

A recent article in the Denver Post highlights results of a survey completed by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research showing that most people still don’t understand the enormity of health risks associated with overweight/obesity. The poll asked over one thousand adults, nationwide, to list the consequences of obesity. While many listed heart disease and diabetes as consequences, most did not realize there are many other health concerns resulting from overweight/obesity, including: cancers, infertility, joint issues, sleep apnea and respiratory problems.

View our health connections model video to learn more about how risk factors such as unhealthy diet, physical inactivity and lack of access to care can lead to health conditions such as overweight/obesity, diabetes and hypertension and how ultimately the health conditions contribute to the leading causes of death in Jefferson County such as cardiovascular disease and cancer. To be a part of the JCPH Community Health Assessment or to find out more about how certain health concerns and risk factors can lead to causes of death, please visit our website at www.healthypeoplehealthyplaces.com. 

In the meantime, make sure to stay healthy! Getting outdoors- even during the winter months- and taking advantage of what Jefferson County has to offer is a great way to increase your physical activity! Jeffco Outdoors has some fantastic ideas and resources to help get your family physically active. After all, health and parks go hand in hand.

Do You Know Your BMI?

A new year is here.  For many, this means a New Year’s resolution to shed some extra pounds.  Loosing those pounds can help prevent and control high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes and stroke!

But exactly how much do you need to lose?  One of the best ways to find out is by calculating your Body Mass Index (BMI). We’ve taken the calculation out of the equation and provided a simple BMI chart below!

Find your height and weight to get your BMI. A high BMI (over 25) usually means you have a higher amount of body fat and a higher health risk.  

If your BMI is higher than 25, and you would like to lower it, there is help. Visit Eat Right.org for tips on weight loss and JCPH Nutrition Services for healthy eating information.   Enjoying the beautiful outdoors in Jefferson County is another way to not only reduce your stress and get fresh air, but a great start to getting active and lowering your BMI.  Check out Jeffco Outdoors for a list of parks and trails that are close to you!

Childhood Obesity

It is no secret that obesity rates in the United States are soaring, especially in our children. According to the National Childhood Obesity Month website, more than 23 million children and teenagers in the United States ages 2 to 19 are obese or overweight.  This is a statistic that health and medical experts consider an epidemic.  And this epidemic puts nearly one third of America’s children at early risk for Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, and even heart disease.

The causes of obesity are complex. They include genetic, metabolic, behavioral, environmental, cultural and socioeconomic factors.  Colorado communities with the highest rates of obesity face limited access to healthy and affordable foods, recreational facilities, safe neighborhoods and preventive health care.  These conditions make it difficult for healthy eating and physical activity to be easy choices for all Coloradans in the places where they live, learn, work and play. 

Families can help prevent Childhood Obesity by:

·         Breastfeeding- The risk of childhood obesity is one-third greater for children who never have been breastfed compared to children who have been breastfed.

• Make healthy personal food choices and be a positive role model for your children.

·         Practice healthy eating habits early, including at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables daily and 6 servings of grains daily (including whole grains).  Avoid keeping high-fat foods, such as sweetened drinks and high-calorie snacks in the house.

·         Require at least one hour of physical activity each day.

·         Reduce time engaged in sedentary activities.  Limit screen time (computer or TV) to less than two hours per day.

Jefferson County PublicHealth, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment and its public health partners are supporting proven and promising strategies to fight the obesity battle including: 

• Promoting best practices for schools to provide daily physical activity for students, adopt nutrition guidelines and partner with local farmers to serve fresh produce in school meals
• Encouraging health care professionals to adopt Colorado Adult and Childhood Obesity Guidelines to provide healthy lifestyle advice to their patients
• Partnering with communities to design streets and neighborhoods to include bike paths and sidewalks and convenient linkages to parks, schools, grocery stores and community gathering places

• Supporting communities in developing community gardens, sponsoring affordable healthy-cooking and exercise classes, and offering team sports opportunities for people of all ages
• Providing businesses with tools for creating incentives and welcoming environments for employees to be healthy and physically active

Resources:

·         The 2011 Colorado Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Report

·         Livewell Colorado

·         Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

·         Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment