The McLean County Health Department wants real progress in the fight against fat and tobacco use and is deputizing community partners. The health department announced Thursday that it will award $96,000 to community organizations to implement programs to: -- Improve the health of students and school staff.
-- Promote worksite wellness, including nutrition, physical activity, smoking cessation and weight and disease management.
-- Voluntarily limit places where residents, employees and visitors can smoke at multi-unit housing properties.
-- Prohibit cigarette use in public areas not covered by the Smoke-Free Illinois Act. About 35 representatives of various organizations were at the announcement at Uptown Station in Normal. “We would like to see measurable reductions in smoking and obesity,” health department director Walt Howe said.
Overweight and obesity rates continue to increase with 39.5 percent of McLean County adults overweight and 22 percent obese, meaning they are at least 30 pounds overweight, Howe said. Consequences include joint destruction, cancer and heart disease. “The ultimate tragedy is what will happen with our children,” Howe said of childhood obesity. Fewer McLean County adults are smoking compared with a generation ago. But 16 percent continue to smoke, leading to 226 deaths in McLean County each year, Howe said.
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