Public Health urges healthy eating, active living

KING COUNTY, WASHINGTON - Today, Public Health - Seattle & King County is calling attention to overweight and obesity in our county and urging the community to follow the theme of this year's National Public Health Week by "Getting in shape for the future through healthy eating and active living." About half of King County residents are overweight or obese, compared to 37% 15 years ago.

"Living in the Pacific Northwest, the residents of King County have an incredible array of ways to be physically active," said King County Executive Ron Sims. "Hiking, biking, canoeing, kayaking, gardening, dancing, walking and team sports are just some of the ways to get moving. Let's take advantage of these opportunities and the great places to exercise in our county."

"The epidemic of obesity should be addressed with the same vigor as any infectious disease epidemic," said Dr. Alonzo Plough, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County. "Obesity and overweight are linked to chronic health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease. Prevention through physical activity and healthy eating are paramount."

Physical Activity

"Being physically active doesn't obligate you to spend hours at the gym," said Dr. Cheza Collier, Manager of Public Health's Chronic Disease Prevention Program. "You can accomplish the recommended physical activity levels with 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity on most, preferably all days of the week and by doing a variety of activities."

Incorporating bicycling and walking into daily activities is a great way to meet these recommendations. For example, in Washington State half of all trips under a half mile are taken in a vehicle. To make walking safer and more fun, Public Health has been involved in a variety of projects:

• Partnerships are being developed with the suburban cities to help communities become more active. For example, walking maps are being developed in Issaquah, Shoreline, Kenmore and the Juanita area of Kirkland. There is also work being done on a senior walking map and a Southwest Seattle Children's map.
  
  
• The Healthy Aging Partnership (HAP), a group of agencies facilitated by Public Health - Seattle & King County, has initiated Sound Steps, a three-month pilot program aimed at encouraging sedentary older adults to start a walking program for better fitness. In cooperation with the American Association of Retired Persons and the Seattle Parks and Recreation Department, Sound Steps will begin in May at six community centers in Seattle. For more information about this program, call HAP at 1-888-4ELDERS or access their website at www.4elders.org/soundsteps.htm.

For information on creative ways to exercise, visit Public Health's physical activity webpages at www.kingcounty.gov/health/getactive.

Healthy eating

Public Health recommends that all residents, regardless of weight status, should:

• Balance food intake with physical activity on a daily basis
• Eat a total of five fruits and vegetables per day

"For those interested in losing weight, it's best to avoid a cycle in which a person repeatedly increases and loses weight," said Collier. "If you lose weight, even if it's a small amount, it's important to keep it off."

There are some relatively simple methods to lose weight. These include:

• Limiting the size of portions and using a smaller plate
• Eating fiber-rich foods in order to have a sense of fullness, even with smaller portions
• Drinking more water to help the body utilize nutrients and increase satiety

For more information on healthy food choices, low-cost cooking, vegetarian eating, quick breakfast ideas and more, visit Public Health's www.kingcounty.gov/health/nutrition.