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About Us
County Impact Statements - Cleveland County
Improving Health in Cleveland County
Proper diet and adequate physical activity are critical in maintaining good
health. By following healthy guidelines, one can reduce the risk for chronic
diseases such as heart disease, certain cancers, diabetes, stroke, and
osteoporosis. Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in
Arkansas. In Cleveland County, 7.3-9.6% of the residents have diabetes; 38-45.7%
of the adults are overweight; 8-10.9% of the children are obese. At Extension,
improving the health of our county is a top priority.
County residents learned healthy cooking techniques at The Right Bite cooking
school. This program, sponsored by the Extension Homemaker Clubs, focuses on
food preparation for individuals with diabetes, heart disease, and high blood
pressure.
The Reshape Yourself program is a weight management program focusing on
healthy eating and adequate exercise. Two classes were conducted over a 15 week
period in which participants learned about proper nutrition and exercise, while
keeping a weekly record of weight lost and miles walked. The importance of
eating five or more servings of fruits and vegetables a day was the subject of
the 5 A Day program. This program was presented to Headstart parents at three
schools: Kingsland, Rison, and Woodlawn. Adults from the Adult Education Center
learned the healthy benefits of fruits and vegetables in the prevention of
diseases. 5 A Day information and healthy recipes were also distributed to food
commodity recipients.
Food safety and proper handwashing were the focus at the Fight Bac (bacteria)
program at the Farm Safety Day Camp for fifth and sixth grade students.
Diane Clement (right), FCS-Agent, demonstrates healthy cooking
at The Right Bite cooking school, assisted by EHC members, Pat
Boyd (left) and Joyce Wilson (center).
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Impacts
- 319 participants attended programs on topics related to health and
nutrition
- 47 county residents learned healthy cooking tips for special dietary
needs such as heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes
- 21 adults learned to reach and maintain a healthy weight by eating right
and exercising regularly
- 47 limited resource adults learned the importance of fruits and
vegetables in the diet and tips for smart grocery shopping
- 204 youth and teachers learned the importance of hand washing and food
safety
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