Shaping up Warren County

By JAMES CLARK / Editor for the Southern Standard

Amy Gay settles in to work out her triceps on one of the machines in the Civic Center exercise room. Experts say physical activity is one of the most important aspects of a program like Warren County Shapes Up. (Charles W. Johnson photo)

This nation is trapped in a health crisis and something must be done to change the way Americans eat and exercise.

That was the message delivered yesterday by members of a newly formed coalition called Warren County Shapes Up. The group is urging local residents to take a six-week challenge that promotes healthier food choices and regular exercise.

The goal is to fight soaring obesity rates which are leading to an assortment of health problems. The most recent statistics show 66 percent of U.S. adults are either overweight or obese.

“We lead the world in obesity,” said Hugh Fletcher of Freedom Partners, a Cookeville-based company that produces videos and books related to taking better care of your body. “We should all strive to take charge and get out of the junk food generation.”

Fletcher said of 20 common chronic illnesses treated by doctors, 15 to 17 are a direct result of bad diet, poor exercise, smoking and drinking. He said liver problems, colon cancer, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes are just some of the major ailments related to obesity.

“So many citizens don’t know what this heath crisis is,” said McMinnville parks and recreation director Carlene Brown. “If we can reach out to this community and get just one person to change their lifestyle, we have done something. But we want it to reach much more than one person.”

The coalition established a mission statement to encourage citizens to make diet and exercise choices that enable them to maintain a healthy weight. To accomplish this goal, members have set up a six-week challenge that begins Sept. 18. Weekly diet and exercise guidelines are spelled out and local residents are urged to give the program a try. There are two programs – one for beginners and another for people with a more advanced level of fitness.

Coordinators want people to not only sign up for themselves, but to also get friends, family members and co-workers to participate.

Warren County Shapes Up will have a booth set up at the fair beginning Sept. 12. Registration is also available at McMinnville Civic Center.