Healthy Lubbock Receives Funding for Obesity Prevention Outreach

Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center (TTUHSC) Garrison Institute on Aging received a $53,000 grant from the Texas Department of State Health Services Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program to fund and expand projects conducted by Healthy Lubbock.

As part of the funding, Healthy Lubbock has instituted a permanent environmental policy change at the South Plains Girls Fastpitch fields by adding nutritional information to concession stand menu boards. The menu boards have the following nutritional values identified: calories, saturated fat and sodium. By providing nutritional information, Healthy Lubbock hopes to create a healthy change in the community’s eating habits.

“Providing nutritional information to community members is one step in preventing obesity, high blood pressure and other diseases,” said Annette Boles, assistant director of the Garrison Institute on Aging. “Having menu boards that identify the nutritional value of the foods that are being offered, consumers may select a different item if they see that the sodium is high, if they have high blood pressure, for example.”

In addition to the nutritional information on menu boards, Healthy Lubbock and the City of Lubbock Parks and Recreation department has placed signage along the paved sidewalks at the softball fields. These signs will guide individuals along a ¾-mile walking trail at the fields. The purpose of the walking trail is to offer community members an additional source of physical activity.

“The mission of Nutrition, Physical Activity and Obesity Prevention Program is to provide Texas communities with the tools to create environments that support healthy eating and active living for the purpose of reducing obesity,” said Tedd L. Mitchell, M.D., TTUHSC president. “TTUHSC is proud to be a partner with Healthy Lubbock to help provide the needed tools to get healthy.”

Healthy Lubbock is a program of the Garrison Institute on Aging that seeks to make Lubbock and its surrounding communities a healthier place to live by supporting and encouraging people to improve nutrition, increase physical activity and exercise regularly to promote wellness.

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