The Winston County Journal

Obesity is a killer in Mississippi but a unique program aims to get Mississippians and especially Winston Countians "in motion" and in better health.

Winston County's Mississippi in motion program kicks off Feb. 15 to help area residents shed a few of those unwanted pounds, get back into shape and learn a healthier lifestyle. The 12-week program headed by the Mississippi State Extension Service and funded in part by a Blue Cross/Blue shield grant focuses on eating right, exercising more, feeling better and improving self esteem.

"Winston Countians have always been concerned with health issues and are proactive so this program is perfect," said Pat Owen of the MSU Extension office. "And we are proud Blue Cross/ Blue Shield selected Winston County as one of its 10 counties to receive the grant."

Participants may form groups and individuals are welcome too with all competing against other groups and individuals in a weight loss contest. The idea is that a little "healthy" challenge will motivate participants to strive for healthier lifestyles. This initiative is designed to promote healthy lifestyles through exercise, proper nutrition, and social support.

"The goal of the program is to help everyone who participates feel better," Owen said. "Mississippi is still one of the top 10 states in obesity, cardiovascular disease and diabetes, which is this program is so important."

The program kicks off on Feb. 15 with the weigh-in event at the Winston County MSU Extension office with time slots from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m.; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 to 6 p.m.

There is a $5 fee to participate in the program, which will help offset the cost of educational materials and awards given to the participants.

Of course, the program directors hope the participants gain knowledge to apply to a healthier lifestyle rather than just have a cycle of diet and exercise.

"It's about educating people about healthier lifestyles," Winston MSU Extension Associate Sara Dykes said.

To help the participants with the healthier lifestyle the program offers 10 one-hour educational sessions each Thursday following the weigh-in at two convenient times. The sessions are set for 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 6p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Winston County MSU Extension Office.

Participants must attend seven of these meetings in order to qualify for the programs prizes. Topics covered by the sessions will range from healthy cooking to better meal planning and eating out intelligently to strength training.

The program will conclude with post weight screenings on May 3 with an award ceremony being held later on to acknowledge the biggest "losers."

Owen noted that she hoped the program has success similar to other counties.

"The program which has been successful in other counties just makes it a lot easier to lose weight and be healthier because you work as a team," said Owen.

Anyone interested in joining the program may sign-up at the weigh-in or contact the Winston County MSU Extension office at 662-773-3091 or email sdykes@ext.msstate.edu or visit msucares.com/health/health04/ms_in_motion/overview.html

The program important facts:

Mississippi in Motion is designed to be a 12-week program, including one week for registration and weigh-in and one week for weigh-out and celebration. During the remaining 10 weeks, participants attend a weekly session on specific health topics.

Team Approach

Participants are encouraged to form teams of five friends, co-workers, or family members with which they regularly interact. This team approach is a vital component to the success of the program. The team provides social support, encouragement, and accountability to those who may need a little extra boost along the way. Also, if one person is unable to attend an education session, a team member can provide a bridge to that information by picking up an extra set of handouts and sharing the information. Many participants in the pilot projects said this team support was a key component of their success.

Registration and Weigh-In

During the registration and weigh-in session, participants will register and provide simple baseline information. The information includes contact information, team participation, and personal data including weight, height, body mass index, and blood pressure. In addition, participants will be asked to complete a short survey indicating levels of activity and general eating habits. Each person will be given an identification number. This number will be used on all pages containing personal data rather than using a person's name. This allows for complete confidentiality for all information provided.

Education Sessions

Each education session is designed to involve a 30-minute lesson with a 15-minute question and answer period for a total of 45 minutes each week. This time frame works well for a "lunch and learn" setting, or for a quick information session at the end of a workday. Each community can select ten of the following twelve educational sessions: Personal Goal Setting, Becoming Physically Active,Better Planning for Better Meals,Cooking Healthy, Diabetes, Eating Out Smart,Fad Diets, Healthy Heart, My Pyramid, Stress and Emotional Eating, Flexibility and Strength Training and Physical Activity/Walking.