Priority Area: Obesity

Why is this a priority area? Obesity rates in Indiana are higher than the national average, with rates in most of northeast Indiana above the state average. In Indiana, childhood obesity has been identified as a “staggering” problem with 30 percent of children ages 10 to 17 years of age overweight.

Purpose: Parkview Wabash Hospital will serve as a community leader partnering with other key community organizations to promote a culture of healthy living and well-being.

Goal: The goal of this initiative is to reduce obesity and the chronic diseases that develop as a result in Wabash County.

Obesity (having a body mass index greater than 30.0) affects all age groups and disproportionately affects people of different socioeconomic statuses and racial/ethnic groups. There are often many complications that can occur as a direct or indirect result of obesity.

Adults 20+ Who Are Obese

County: Wabash

(Compared to U.S. Counties)

Community Programs

Mid-week Farmers Market: Parkview Wabash Hospital is located in a residential neighborhood that would be considered low-income. Since there are no grocery stores in close walking distance, the easiest access to food is from two convenience stores. The hospital hosted four mid-week Farmers Markets in the empty lot on the north end of its property. Six different vendors offer fresh produce.
Community-based Diabetes Education Program: A registered dietitian provides educational and screening programs to individuals with pre-diabetes, diabetes or other nutrition-related disease such as obesity, heart disease and hypertension. Activities are in the form of accessible educational classes, one-on-one consultations, blood glucose check, and evidence-based educational materials.
Healthy Lifestyles Group: The free program was developed in partnership with 85 HOPE and Manchester University. The four-part series is led by Manchester University students under the guidance of Parkview Wabash Hospital’s registered dietitian. It is open to anyone who has been diagnosed with diabetes, pre-diabetes, high blood pressure, and/or sleep apnea and will be held twice in 2017. Topics include overall body health, nutrition, exercise and diabetic medications.
Active Living Workshop: The hospital was a proud supporter of a grant written by the Purdue Extension to conduct an Active Living Workshop. Community leaders from a variety of sectors will come together to learn how to build an active living community for all ages and abilities. The day will include best practices and strategies for success, planning and building for active living, a walking audit of nearby infrastructure and the identification of active living goals for Wabash. The project will be ongoing throughout 2017.
OJ Neighbours Fit Club: OJ Neighbours is an elementary school located in Wabash. It serves kids in grades kindergarten through 4th. Parkview Wabash Hospital awarded OJ a grant to begin a fitness club, which is open to their 4th grade students. Students enrolled in the after-school program receive a healthy snack and 45 minutes of cross fit training two days per week. The program is taught by a certified trainer. Additionally, the program is offered to all faculty and staff up to four nights per week.
YMCA Personal Coaching Scholarships for Low-income Families: The Wabash County YMCA seeks to mitigate risk factors for obesity through one-on-one coaching to its low- income (scholarship) families. Participation in the coaching program will increase physical wellness and, in turn, obesity and the chronic diseases associated with obesity in the long-term. Participants will receive two individual coaching sessions per month and will track their blood pressure and BMI.