Combating Obesity for Alachua County’s Health
HELP COMBAT OBESITY AND TAKE OFF THOSE EXTRA HOLIDAY POUNDS!!!
The Alachua County Medical Society and Alliance invite you to join them for the Weekly Wellness Walks. There is no charge to participate.
For details call 352-870-9100.
Weekly Wellness Walks
The Weekly Wellness Walk is a joint effort between and Alachua County Medical Society (ACMS) and the Alachua County Medical Alliance (ACMA). As the number one health problem facing residents of the state of Florida placed the obesity epidemic and its medical consequences, as well as the costs it presents to our community, at the top of their agenda.
We realize that a problem of such proportions that has grown bigger and bigger in recent years cannot be turned around in a week or a month or a year, but we must start some place and do this one step at a time. That’s the idea behind the Weekly Wellness Walk. It’s a way to get people moving---one step at a time. We have organized a three mile walk each Saturday morning January to February, led by a different athlete, coach, elected official, school principal, physician or public figure. Jackson Sasser, President of Santa Fe College, has allowed us to use the track at Santa Fe College for the walks. We start each walk with a 15 minute warm-up that includes aerobics and stretching to music, as well as some brief health tips. We have cheerleaders to help us build enthusiasm and we provide water / fruit for the participants. There is no age limit for participants though children under the age of 18 have to have the signature of a parent or guardian.
We want people to realize that walking is one of the best ways to put some exercise into their lives and all that they need to walk are their own two feet, a decent pair of shoes and a safe location. We want to encourage them to commit to walking three times each week between the Wellness Walks and will provide some incentives for doing so. We have received support from each of the hospitals in our community, government and several volunteers.
We start the Weekly Wellness Walks just after the beginning of the New Year, as the weather is cooler, football season is over and many people are reassessing their lifestyles and making New Years resolutions. There are 8 weekly walks, continuing through February. We will provide participants with pedometers and a log, which they can keep tract of their walking (see Wellness Data Form), as well as bottled water and fresh fruit at the end of each walk. We will also have volunteers on site from the medical community who can calculate the BMI of interested participants.
We hope that we can count on you for your support!