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Employers look at ways to combat obesity

Ernestine McKinney of Hamilton purchases zucchini from Philip Watts of Brown Farms, based in Ross Twp., at the Hamilton Farmer's Market last month.

Staff photo by Samantha Grier. Ernestine McKinney of Hamilton purchases zucchini from Philip Watts of Brown Farms, based in Ross Twp., at the Hamilton Farmer's Market last month.

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By Hannah Poturalski, Staff Writer 9:39 PM Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Communities in Butler County are working to tighten their belts as the issue of obesity becomes more prevalent and costly.

Ohio has one of the highest costs per adult of obesity, second only to Oklahoma, according to a study titled "The Future Costs of Obesity," by Kenneth Thorpe of Emory University. His study shows Ohio’s obesity costs are expected to increase to $755 per person in 2013 an increase in costs from $321 per person in 2009, according to the same report.

Being overweight or obese can lead to major health issues such as heart disease, diabetes and chronic problems such as back pain and fatigue according to Daniel Remley, director of Butler County’s Ohio State University Extension Office, who holds a master of science in public health.

An estimated 34 percent of adults in Butler County being considered overweight according to a survey conducted by the Ohio Dept. of Health from 2004-2007. More than 25 percent were considered obese putting more than half of the population in an expensive bind, both physically and financially.

Several local employers, agencies and school districts are working to combat this problem by providing exercise programs, better access to nutritious fresh foods and education to residents to improve their health. Some residents are doing it on their own.

Linda Yarger, administrative director of ancillary services at Fort Hamilton Hospital, said the company offers smoking cessation and weight loss programs for its employees.

“Healthy workers are happy and don’t miss as much work,” Yarger said.

Yarger said since merging with Kettering Health Network, the hospital participates in GetUp Montgomery County — a fitness initiative between hospitals in the Premier Health Network and Kettering Health Network — comprised of Fort Hamilton, Kettering Medical Center, Sycamore, Grandview, Southview and Greene Memorial.

Yarger said the GetUp program includes tracking how much you walk, pledging to eat five fruits and vegetables a day and limiting yourself to only two hours of computer time per day.

According to choosemyplate.gov, a USDA sponsored website, most adults should consume between 2-3 cups of vegetables a day and 1 1/2 cups of fruits per day.

The hospital is working to form a small business coalition for health and wellness which would include cooking demonstrations and health fairs with dietitians.

In Hamilton there is a group that is collaborating to combat obesity in children.

Kay Farrar, Hamilton’s nursing administrator, said a local Childhood Obesity Coalition is a collaboration between Miami University’s nursing program, the OSU Extension Office and three health departments — Hamilton, Middletown and Butler County.

Jenny Bailer, director of nursing at Butler County Health Department, said the coalition began about a year ago and is still in its infancy.

Bailer said the YMCA has successful programs such as Catch — a health initiative for children in kindergarten through the fifth grade which includes physical and nutritional components.

“We have a really good staff that’s good with education,” Dempsey said. “People really will change if they learn; they are receptive. It’s just about getting the message out there.”

Both ShawnDempsey, Hamilton’s Health Director and Farrar serve on advisory boards in the community to coordinate health efforts — including Hamilton Urban Garden Systems (HUGS), the Transit Alliance of Butler County and Healthy Women, Healthy Lives.

There are also several movements in the county to increase access to fresh fruit and vegetables.

Remley and staff work closely in the formation of community gardens. A member of HUGS, Remley said research shows children and adults who garden typically make healthier decisions because of the physical activity, ingrained habits and being conscientious of the quality of food ingested.

“Any way you can get your fruits and vegetables, whether it’s fresh, frozen or canned (is good),” Remley said. “But there’s a freshness in the taste with fresh produce.”

In an effort to increase the amount of local produce consumed, the Miami Oxford Organic Network (MOON) Co-op is opening a full-service grocery store Oct. 31.

“We work directly with the farmers,” said Bernadette Unger, MOON president. “It’s community-oriented and we’re doing our best to help people understand where food comes from so they make informed decisions.”

The education on personal nutrition is starting in the schools, thanks to the Healthy Choice for Healthy Kids Act. The law was passed in 2010 and outlines curriculums for school districts in Ohio.

The school districts in Hamilton and Middletown strive to better students’ health — whether inside the classroom, cafeteria or gymnasium. Both districts introduced new physical education and health curriculums in recent years, focused on introducing lifelong habits such as flexibility and monitoring heart rate to distinguish abnormalities later in life instead of just skills such as volleyball.

In 2009, the Hamilton school district received a more than $220,000 Physical Education Program grant to acquire heart rate monitors, pedometers, stationary bicycles and Ellipticals for use in gym class, Michael said.

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