Preventing Obesity Requires Daily Caloric Reduction

In a new study published by the American Journal of Preventative Medicine, researchers have determined that in order to reduce obesity rates by 2020, children in the United States need to eliminate 64 excess calories per day. This could be achieved by decreasing caloric intake, increasing physical activity or both. Otherwise, U.S. youth will find themselves nearly four pounds heavier than a person of the same age in 2007-08, and more than 20% of young people will be considered obese.

http://www.rwjf.org/childhoodobesity/product.jsp?id=74186&cid=XEM_A5893.

re:TH!NK 420 -Winnebago's Healthy Living Partnership Holds Legislative Breakfast

On Friday, April 20, 2012, re:TH!NK, Winnebago’s Healthy Living Partnership, held a Legislative Breakfast at the beautiful Miron Construction facility in Neenah.  In attendance were Wisconsin State Senator Jessica King -D, Rep. Gordon Hintz-D and Rep. Richard Spanabauer-R, Penny Bernard-Shaber, police chiefs, prevention specialists and local mayors as well as community leaders from Winnebago County. Presentations were given on a range of topics important to re:TH!NK, including alcohol recovery, safe routes to school, school/community nutrition, healthy community planning, law enforcement partnerships for alcohol control, FACT (Fighting Against Corporate Tobacco) and the knowledge of 4/20 among school children.

This was an opportunity to let our legislators and community leaders know how these issues are directly affecting our community. To read more about how re:TH!NK Winnebago creates awareness on these and other topics, please go to our website: http://www.rethinkwinnebago.org/.

Don’t forget to “like” us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/reTHINKwinnebago.

re:TH!NK Your Drink for April-It's Alcohol Awareness Month

Let’s Talk About Alcohol Usage During Alcohol Awareness Month!

Wisconsin has 1.5 times the National rate of arrests for operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated and more than three times the rate of arrests for other liquor law violations. Are you struggling with an alcohol issue, or unsure if it’s a problem at all? Maybe you have just never been caught? April is Alcohol Awareness Month, which gives us all an opportunity to examine our alcohol usage.

re:TH!NK, a Program of the Winnebago County Health Department wants to offer you some suggestions to help you avoid becoming a statistic. Maybe you are not sure if you are engaged in high risk drinking. Can you answer “yes” to any of these questions? Be honest. Your life, your future depends on it:
· Do you drink but are under the age of 21?
· Do you drink, but are pregnant or could become pregnant?
· Do you drink coupled with Rx usage?
· Do you behave unpredictably when drinking?
· When you drink do you have a hard time stopping?
· Do you drink even though court mandated to sobriety?
· Do you drink alone when you feel angry or sad?
· Does your drinking ever make you late for work?
· Does your drinking worry your family?
· Do you ever drink after telling yourself you won't?
· Do you ever forget what you did while you were drinking?
· Do you get headaches or have a hang-over after you have been drinking?
If so, check out the resources to help you think about this. This link can get you started: http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/handout.htm.

Maybe you are ready to deal with a serious drinking issue? Good for you! Click here to begin getting the help you need. re:TH!NK is interested in sharing resources that will improve the quality of life: http://www.rethinkwinnebago.org/alcohol.html. The purpose of Alcohol Awareness Month is to give all of us time to look at our alcohol usage, educate ourselves about the dangers of alcohol use and learn how to make safe, healthy choices. You can do this!

RETHINK