About the Calhoun County Challenge
The Calhoun County Challenge is a program for all residents of Calhoun County. The program is not only a web site, but a program in the community to help provide awareness and motivation about making lifestyle changes that include healthy food choices, appropriate activities, and working together to have a positive impact on our health.
The "Calhoun County Challenge" is for Calhoun County residents to lose 100,000 lbs by making lifestyle changes, forming groups who lose weight together, and helping to motivate our friends and family members who wish to lose weight to become healthier. Even a few pounds lost, can make a difference in our health.
Why did Calhoun County establish this Challenge and Program? We are one of 83 counties in Michigan and are currently ranked 73rd in Health Factors that evaluate our population. We can Choose to be better! In Health Outcomes Calhoun County ranks 75th.
In Calhoun County, there are 135,616 people. Of these, 48,958 are Obese, or 36.1%.
Another 40,142 of our friends and family are overweight. This is over 90,000 people. By Choosing Health, we can reduce these numbers and become a healthier county.
100,000 pounds was chosen as the challenge goal because it is an attainable goal that can be reached by the community working together. It is the beginning challenge of changing how we make choices that will affect our health in so many ways. The conscious effort every resident makes to attain this goal will affect and change the culture of Calhoun County−resulting in a healthier, happier community.
Why a challenge - Why Choose Health?
Statistical reports prove that Calhoun County has a seriously high percentage of overweight and obese people (The Coordinating Council Community Report Card 2010). Approximately 67% of our residents fit in one of these categories. The down-line consequences of this unhealthy condition are serious, both from an economic standpoint and quality of life perspective.
Complications of obesity include metabolic imbalance; cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, kidney, and pulmonary disease; musculoskeletal problems; neurological and psychological problems; poor school performance; and reduced lifespan. Whether we choose traditional or non-traditional health care, it is expensive.
The impact of obesity: Quality of life, poor health, loss of work days and income, debt due to uncovered medical costs, poor credit score due to debt, family stress, pain, loss of enjoyment in life, depression, and educational goals not attained leading to lifelong economic impact.
Most importantly, this 67% of the population is us! Us individually, our friends, our family, our neighbors, our co-workers. We can Choose to do something. The Challenge is the start of moving towards better health.
We want to hear about your ideas, the Choose Health choices you or your employer are making, and the success stories. Choose Health in 2011 Calhoun County!