High schools in southeastern Ohio, a region plagued with higher-than-average diabetes rates, will benefit from the Appalachian Diabetes Initiative's Get Active project. The project promotes physical activity to reduce the chances that kids will develop adult-onset, Type 2, diabetes.
Ohio Gov. Bob Taft announced a month ago a three-part Appalachian Diabetes Initiative dedicated to the treatment, care and prevention of diabetes in southeastern Ohio. This program is part of the statewide Healthy Ohioans initiative.
The diabetes initiative was created because of unusually high rates of diabetes in southeastern Ohio. Of the almost half-million dollars appropriated, a $60,000 grant was given to Ohio State University's School of Physical Activity and Education Services to implement its Get Active project for high school students.
Diabetes is a problem not only in southeastern Ohio
but it is reaching epidemic proportions nationwide said Chris Knisely, Appalachian Rural Health Institute director of grant development.
The diabetes rate is higher in Appalachian counties than other Ohio counties, she said.
Four southeastern Ohio counties were above the national rate of diabetes, 7.6 percent, according to a 2004 ARHI report. Vinton County had the highest diabetes rate of the four counties, a troubling 12.8 percent. Athens, however, had a 6.7 percent diabetes rate.
The Get Active project began with a group of faculty at Denison University. It was originally a research project on physical activity, which found physical activity dropped dramatically after a person reached 16 years of age then continued to drop throughout the person's lifetime.
Working, driving and dating, all of which usually begin around the age of 16, are the main reason adolescents' activity levels drop, he said.
Only 15 percent of adolescents are regularly physically active Petosa said. This means that 85 percent of adolescents are not getting enough physical activity and are more prone to becoming overweight
which is directly related to developing Type 2 diabetes.
The Get Active project intervenes prior to the age 16 to help children develop healthy, lifelong fitness habits.
Our goal is to create lifelong physical activity for all students - not just those who are active in sports
but everyone
said Rick Petosa, a professor of physical activity and education services at OSU.
The Get Active project will begin this spring and will continue for at least two years, with a goal of lasting five to seven years.
Schools that have used the project have seen increased physical activity, particularly in those kids who were sedentary, Petosa said.
In Athens City School District, nurse Janalee Stock said students receive education on nutrition and exercise from kindergarten through high school.
Stock said that she was briefly contacted about the Appalachian Diabetes Initiative, but she is waiting for more information concerning the project.
In addition, the initiative handed $200,000 to Ohio University's Appalachian Rural Health Institute and $200,000 to qualified health care centers in Appalachian counties.
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