The State of Health for Hopkins County was recently presented to the Hopkins County Commissioners’ Court. Although Hopkins County ranks 88th in health outcomes based on length and quality of life, it is an improvement from previous years. We rank 117th in health factors based on health behaviors, clinical care, social/ economic factors and physical factors. This is also an improvement from previous years. Adult obesity remains the same at 31% of the population, while physical activity has improved.
According to https://hhs.state.texas.gov, 13.7% of the population in Hopkins County lives in poverty. As of October 2019, there were 1,900 Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) cases with 4,132 recipients.
Hopkins County Extension Family & Community Health Committee, with the Community Health/Wellness Alliance, Master Wellness Volunteers and community partners have expressed the need to continue addressing the topic of nutrition, physical activity and overall well-being. Several action plans have been implemented to meet the need.
Walk & Talk is an eight-week program that promotes physical activity and healthy eating. Each week, a simple nutrition lesson or cooking demonstration provides basic information to encourage clientele to increase fruit and vegetable consumption, along with consumption of whole grains, low-fat dairy products and lean proteins. Another goal is to promote the habit of daily physical activity.
Two teams of Head Start parents and 40 students grades 1-4 logged a total of 3,713.65 miles. Results indicated an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption, increase in physical activity and greater awareness of reading nutrition labels. Topic reinforcement items included cutting boards, measuring cups, food thermometers, veggie peelers, lunch pouches, MyPlate booklets, veggie cookbooks, cool neck wraps and gardening gloves.
Fresh Start to a Healthier You is a four-lesson series, featuring MyPlate, Fight Bac (food safety), Fruits and Vegetables, and Stretching Your Food Dollar.
Fifteen individuals attended the series. Nutrition indicators showing improvement from pre- to post-surveys were: making a list to avoid impulse buying, reading nutrition labels, proper handling of fresh produce and being active at least 30 minutes five days a week.
Be Well, Live Well is a five-lesson program targeted toward the 50+ age group. Sessions include Be Independent – Eat Well, Be Able to Read the Label, Be Safe Eat Safe, Be Creative with Meal Planning and Be Fit Move More. The overall goal is to help older adults aspire to the ideal of successful aging.
Seven individuals attended the series. Major improvements from pre- to post-surveys were: increasing frequency of fruit and vegetable intake, increasing the number of days of physical activity, understanding nutrition labels. New information learned by individuals included temperature danger zone, using food thermometers and understanding labeling terms.
Better Living for Texans Newsletter is a semi-monthly newsletter focusing on a variety of nutrition and physical activity topics, including a recipe and upcoming events with each edition.
Ten issues were prepared in English and Spanish. Posted on Extension website and distributed electronically to 39 outlets for distribution to clientele, the newsletter reached a potential 5,500 households.
School Health Fairs were held in coordination with Sulphur Springs, Cumby, Sulphur Bluff and Como-Pickton ISDs. Exhibits included MyPlate, Packing a Safe School Lunch, dangers of tobacco, hands-on activity for students and marketing materials for Extension programs.
Extension provided exhibits on Packing a Safe and Healthy School Lunch, Fast Food Fats, Fizzics of Soda, Nutrition Spin Wheel and others, reaching approximately 550.
One-shot Nutrition Programs for Civic Organizations, Head Start youth and various groups provided basic nutrition, food budgeting and holiday tips.
This Hopkins County program served as a pilot for “Get a Taste for Reducing Food Waste,” Head Start students healthy snacking program, Hopkins/Rains Retired Teachers healthy holiday tips program and Junior Waverly program.