[Press Release] : Columbia/Boone County Health Department supports Public Health Week

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Deidre Wood, Public Information Specialist - (573) 874-7632,
dfwood at GoColumbiaMo.com 

Columbia/Boone County Health Department supports Public Health Week

COLUMBIA, MO (April 7, 2008) - This year’s Missouri Public Health
Week theme, Just One, highlights the importance of how a person’s
health and attitude toward the environment can influence a community.
Between April 7-11, the Columbia/Boone County Health Department
encourages individuals, families and communities to work together to
improve the health and well-being of Columbia and Boone County.

There are many ways citizens can get started with Just One of the
activities that are already offered by the Columbia/Boone County Health
Department.

● Just One: Step - Walk or ride your bike to work, school or on
errands. A couple of the programs sponsored by the Columbia/Boone County
Health Department, in conjunction with the PedNet Coalition and other
community organizations, are Bike, Walk and Wheel Week and the Walking
School Bus. With the Walking School Bus program, walking to school is an
easy way for children (and adults) to get the 30-60 minutes of daily
physical activity recommended by the Centers for Disease Control to
maintain a healthy weight and reduce the risk of chronic disease. Other
benefits include a reduction in traffic congestion and air pollution
around schools and the community.

● Just One: Choice - Choose to shop at a local farmers' market to get
fresh fruits and vegetables. The Columbia/Boone County Health
Department, along with the Missouri Foundation for Health, has recently
started the Columbia Cooks, offering exciting new ways to shop, cook and
eat healthy throughout the year. Guest chefs will focus on a variety of
approaches including: using local markets and produce, learning simple
recipes, cooking with children and preparing meals for singles and
couples.

● Just One: Change - Turn off the TV, go outside and spend 30 minutes
walking through the
neighborhood or a local park. By making healthier choices, the risk for
disease, including heart disease, decreases. Physical inactivity, being
overweight and smoking are three major risk factors. The Columbia/Boone
County Health Department has many resources available including
educational materials and free blood pressure screenings. In addition,
the Health Department has partnered with the Missouri Foundation for
Health to offer a Smoking Cessation Program. This program includes four
counseling cessions and free nicotine patches for eight weeks.

● Just One: Touch - Reach out to help a neighbor clean his/her yard.
Springtime is a good time to fight and prevent West Nile. As you
spring-clean inside, it is also a good time to clean outside and
eliminate trash and litter in your neighborhood. This can make a big
difference in protecting the community from West Nile virus.

● Just One: Word - Teach a child how important his/her health is and
how he/she can help protect the world. This lesson starts with the
child’s parents taking an active role implementing a healthier
beginning for their children. The Healthy Beginnings program offers
exercise classes, feel-good activities and affordable nutrition cooking
classes.

For more information about any of the programs, please visit the
Columbia/Boone County Health Department page of the city's Web site at
www.GoColumbiaMo.com.

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