State
agencies join Gov. Blagojevich's initiative to get fit
[JULY 20, 2005] SPRINGFIELD -- State employees from 10 agencies
are lacing up their tennis shoes and strapping on their pedometers
to participate in the "Fit 4 Life State Agency Walking Challenge,"
part of Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's comprehensive fitness and wellness
initiative. The six-week program will challenge state employees to
walk 10,000 steps per day. The program began July 11 and will end
the last day of the Illinois State Fair, Aug. 21.
"Exercising regularly not only improves your physical health, but
can also help relieve stress and anxiety and increase your energy
level," Blagojevich said. "I challenge our state employees and all
Illinoisans to participate in some form of fitness to improve their
health and overall well-being. Fit 4 Life is one way we can help our
state employees take steps to stay fit."
A startling 66 percent of
all Americans are overweight, with more than 30 percent considered
obese. Illinois statistics are comparable to the national trend,
with more than 60 percent of Illinois adults 18 and older being
overweight or obese. Obesity-related medical expenditures for
Illinois are estimated at $3.4 billion, with $805 million financed
by Medicare and $1 billion financed by Medicaid.
Earlier this year, the Illinois Department of Public Health
piloted a similar walking program, and nearly one-third of the
department's employees participated, walking a total of 210 million
steps over a 12-week period. Blagojevich asked Dr. Eric E. Whitaker,
state public health director, to offer other state agencies
assistance in implementing a similar walking challenge.
"Our program was a success and we want other state agencies to
reap the same health benefits," Whitaker said. "Employees can
experience increased energy, less stress and better weight
management, and decrease the chance of developing many illnesses if
they add exercise into their daily lives. It's a win-win for
everyone."
A typical adult averages 3,000 to 5,000 steps a day, but Fit 4
Life challenges participants to 10,000 steps, which is the
equivalent of five miles per day. There are many ways to increase
your steps: for example, walking on lunch breaks, parking farther
away from the store or work, or taking stairs instead of the
elevator.
The Department of Human Services and Department of Public Health are
working together to implement various activities and events that
will eventually be a part of Fit 4 Life to raise awareness of the
importance of adopting healthy lifestyles.
"We have instituted a
model within DHS to make positive health behavioral changes and
increase health and fitness awareness by providing employees the
opportunity to join this fitness challenge," said Carol L. Adams,
Ph. D., secretary of the Department of Human Services.
The following state agencies are
participating in Fit 4 Life:
Department of Agriculture
Capital Development Board
Department of Corrections
Department of Employment Security
Department of Human Services
Department of Healthcare and Family Services
Department of Public Health
Department of Revenue
State Board of Education
State Universities Civil Service System
Participants are able to register to participate in Fit 4 Life
and track their progress electronically throughout the six-week
program. The competitive challenge will allow employees to see how
agencies rank in terms of average number of steps taken per week. At
the conclusion of the program, data will indicate which agency has
shown the most improvement by comparing steps taken the first three
weeks with the final three weeks of the program.
