April 4, 2005

As part of National Public Health Week, the Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) is promoting awareness of a different public health issue each day this week. Today’s focus is on improving the health of Michigan citizens by encouraging healthy lifestyles.

Healthy Lifestyles Day highlights the importance of leading a safe and healthy life. In conjunction with the Michigan Surgeon General’s campaign, Michigan Steps Up, Healthy Lifestyles Day attempts to deal with obesity, chronic disease, and unhealthy lifestyles. It also identifies the serious toll harmful health choices have on our economy and quality of life.

“Approximately 62 percent of Michigan’s adults are overweight or obese,” said Janet Olszewski, MDCH Director. “Obesity increases the risk for more than 30 preventable chronic diseases and conditions, including the leading causes of death in Michigan: heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes.”

The Michigan Steps Up website contains tools needed to start improving personal health such as personal planning tips that help individuals set and track goals, free healthy recipes and snack ideas, ideas for making healthy choices when eating out, daily health tips and links to hundreds of health-related resources.

“The leading causes of death in Michigan are rooted in three unhealthy lifestyle choices: unhealthy eating, physical inactivity, and tobacco use,” said Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan Surgeon General. “Michigan Steps Up aims to eliminate these behaviors and make Michigan a healthier place to live and grow.”

For more information on healthy lifestyles please visit the Michigan Steps Up website at www.michiganstepsup.org or call 1-877-422-4244 to order a free copy of the “Make Health Your Choice” magazine.

National Public Health Week 2005 is about empowering Americans to live stronger, longer. Each day will focus and promote awareness of a different public health related issue. Informational events as well as free health assessments will be taking place across the state throughout the week.

Additional information on Public Health Week can be found at www.michigan.gov/mdch or www.apha.org/nphw.