Governor Bill Haslam has declared March 27-31 as Healthier Tennessee Week. The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness is encouraging all Tennesseans to make healthier choices, including getting more physical activity, eating more fresh fruits and vegetables and abstaining from tobacco this week and every week throughout the year, and to share their healthy activities on social media using #healthierTNweek.
“Our state’s greatest resource is its citizens, and their health and well-being is critical to the quality of life in Tennessee, yet we consistently rank among the least healthy states in the nation,” Governor’s Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said. “With help and encouragement, almost all of us have the opportunity to change the way we live, eat healthier, be more physically active, and stay away from tobacco.”
To mark Healthier Tennessee Week, Gov. Haslam will join the foundation on Tuesday, March 28 at 7:30 a.m. at Waller Law in Nashville for a breakfast recognition ceremony to designate nine cities or counties as Healthier Tennessee Communities.ξThe community designation event will also kick off Healthier Tennessee Day on the Hill, a chance for community leaders to meet with their elected representatives to highlight the impact of the Healthier Tennessee Communities program across the state and the value of effective preventative health initiatives.
The Maury County Public Schools, Coordinated School Health (CSH) led by CSH Coordinator, Laurie Stanton, have been instrumental in this effort and initiated physical activity data and employee wellness efforts throughout the school district. Last week, Governor Haslam designated Maury County as a Healthier Tennessee Community.
In Tennessee, one in five adults smokes, and one in five high school students uses tobacco. Approximately 34 percent of the population is classified as obese, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at near epidemic levels.
Healthier Tennessee Communities are those that encourage and enable more physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence at the local level. The program takes a community-wide approach to improving Tennesseans’ξhealth by engaging the local leaders of cities, towns, counties and neighborhoods.ξThe foundation launched the Healthier Tennessee Communities initiative in March 2015 with nine pilot communities. Today, 78 communities are engaged with the program and 15 have already received the designation.
More information about Healthier Tennessee Week, Healthier Tennessee Communities, and the Foundation’s other initiatives is available at www.healthierTN.com.
Photo L to R: Senator Joey Hensley, Tiffany Venere (MidTN Bone & Joint), Katie Martin (Middle TN YMCA), Laurie Stanton (MCPS Coordinated School Health Coordinator), Governor Bill Haslam, Starla Hardin (UT Extension), Patrick Harlan (Maury Regional), Jill Gaddes (Maury Regional), and Gary Stovall (MCPS County Commissioner).
