Get Healthy Kentucky: State Wellness Program Battles Obesity

In a recent blog, I ruminated about my annual attempt to lose weight in spring.

Some fast facts about health issues, a weighty problem faced by Kentucky residents:

• 63% of Kentuckians are overweight;


• Kentucky residents are ranked 5th overall for obesity;


• Kentucky has the highest adult smoking rate in the US.

In response, Kentucky governor Ernie Fletcher is once again running the Kentucky wellness program, Get Healthy Kentucky. The eight-week challenge highlights Kentucky health issues and helps residents manage a personal weight loss regimen. The Web site provides information about wellness program events in Kentucky, healthy weight loss tips and healthy recipes, too.

Locally, the Let's Get Healthy Northern Kentucky program offers free registration for the weight loss challenge, and you can monitor the overall weight loss results for Northern Kentucky each week as registrants log their progress.

I often end blogs by listing things to do today in Northern Kentucky. Today I'll list what I pledge to do over the next eight weeks as my contribution to the Kentucky wellness program:

1. Get my cholesterol checked. I haven't done this in years.
2. Sign up for the Let's Get Healthy Northern Kentucky program. What the hey.
3. Start going to yoga again. My work isn't going to suffer if I get up and go to class for an hour.
4. Keep up the walking, which I started as soon as the temperature went above 40 degrees (I know, what a wimp, right?).

Share what changes you and your family pledge to make during the Kentucky weight loss challenge. What will you do to support Get Healthy Kentucky? Feel free to share your favorite healthy weight loss tips in the comments area of this blog.