| The Mid Ohio Valley Health Department would like to announce a new healthy lifestyle program called the DREAM (Diet Record, Exercise/Activity Monitoring) project.
This program is a weight loss program for adults that is free of charge and will in each of the six county offices of MOVHD.
Trina Smith, DREAM project coordinator explains, "Basically the program consists of tracking a person's food intake and recording the amount of steps taken each day."
Those in the program will, after completing a registration form, meet one on one with Trina to weigh-in, record Body Mass Index, and receive a food log and a pedometer. After beginning the program, a participant will continue to meet monthly with Trina to monitor progress and receive helpful tips.
A monthly newsletter will be given out with nutritional hints , a healthy recipe and other tips to make the move to a healthier lifestyle. Other opportunities such as classes on using exercise bands and creating a more nutritional menu will be offered but will not be mandatory. Participants can also elect to be part of an email support program.
A similar program called FOCUS (Fighting Obesity in Children in the United States) will be available to children five and up. Unlike the adult program, this will focus on helping children choose better food choices and increasing activity. Children will be asked to track soda intake, how many fruits and vegetables they eat, how much water they consume, how many hours in front of TV/video games and time spent in an exercise activity of their choice.
For a child to participate, an adult must sign up for DREAM too. Trina stated, "This is a simple chart that even a five year old can do themselves. We want to encourage children to make healthy choices."
Anyone interested in the project can contact the local health department for a brochure and a registration form. Registration forms can be picked up at the Calhoun, Pleasants, Ritchie, Roane, Wirt or Wood County offices. They are also available on the website movhd.com They can be turned back into the local offices. Once Trina receives the registration form, she will call to set up an initial appointment. The program will be offered during the evening as well as daytime.
This program has limited space available and will be done on a first come first serve basis. When slots are filled, a waiting list will be kept to add participants as openings become available.
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