Mark A. McDonnell, RS, MS, Health Commissioner

Robert P. Dillaplain, MD, Medical Director

News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Sara T. Pappa, Public Information Officer

November 12, 2008 937-374-5662/866-858-3588

Greene County Combined Health District Awarded

Obesity Prevention Grant

(XENIA, OH) The Greene County Combined Health District (GCCHD) has been awarded an obesity prevention grant from the Ohio Department of Health. The District will receive $37,500.00 to expand its current efforts in preventing youth obesity, including the Greene County Fitness Task Force, the Healthier Me program and a new program called an Ounce of Prevention.

The Ohio Department of Health (ODH) awarded grants to 14 local health departments throughout Ohio. Grants included environmental change, community-expansion and capacity-building. Greene County was awarded a community expansion grant to help enhance existing obesity-reduction initiatives. The total amount granted was $1.1 million. Officials at ODH, in a recent press release, stated that, “Poor nutrition and physical inactivity are driving an obesity epidemic that leads to preventable illness such as heart disease and diabetes as well as skyrocketing health care costs.”

GCCHD will use the grant funds for three initiatives: expanding the Greene County Fitness Task Force, the Healthier Me program and a new program, An Ounce of Prevention. The Fitness Task Force is a group of professionals and community members who work on addressing the obesity epidemic. Projects include the Let’s Run program, the annual Family Fitness Challenge and providing technical assistance to interested groups.

A Healthier Me is a program that works with elementary school students and teaches the importance of healthy nutrition and regular physical activity. Students are pre and post tested before and after an intervention. An Ounce of Prevention is an ODH program that trains physicians and other health care professionals to incorporate healthy nutrition and physical activity messages into regular doctor visits for parents of children ages birth to 3 years.

The next meeting of the Greene County Fitness Task Force will be Monday, November 17, 2008 from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m. at the GCCHD offices. The meeting is open to all.

For more information, please call Project Director Robyn (937) 374-5615.

Greene County Combined Health District – Your center for public health services and health information in Greene County for over 80 years.

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360 Wilson Drive

Xenia, OH 45385

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