By Stephen Smoot
Few have not heard of the problem affecting the health of most West Virginians. The Mountain State leads the nation in those who are medically considered obese at almost 38 percent. Nearly three-fourths of people in the state carry too much weight for their health.
While the media focuses on the idea that West Virginians either lack the knowledge or access about healthy choices, a major contributing factor to the problem lies in what could be considered a positive. Unlike a large number of other states and major metropolitan areas, West Virginians face little or no social pressure or prejudice for being overweight or obese.
A 2008 study from Rural Remote Health interviewed West Virginia adolescents on issues of health and obesity. Part of the reason why “youth in rural US Appalachia are at a disproportionately greater risk” comes from “a general acceptance of being ‘thick’ or a reliance on ‘feeling healthy’ as a determinant of maintaining a healthy weight.”
This leads to “many teens” holding “unrealistic and unhealthy perceptions of weight.” Those who did have negative feelings about higher weights, even in isolated communities, received them from the media’s “profound impact.” A 2016 Psychology Today article, “What’s Really to Blame for Our Skinny Obsession” described a study of two villages in Nicaragua, one with access to television and one without. The village that could watch television “learned” an equation of thinness with attractiveness while the one that went without maintained traditional views on it.
The positive West Virginia and Appalachian social value of non-judgment and acceptance of different types of appearance, contrary to the national culture, has had the benefit of reduced social stigma and psychological stress concerning weight, but has also removed a powerful, if also unhealthy, motivation in other areas of the United States and the Western world to keep individual body weight down.
Also, in recent years, “thinness” in Appalachia has grown increasingly associated with drug addiction and abuse.
This is why Healthy Harrison wants to reset the game on how to convince young people in Shinnston and throughout Harrison County to learn better ways to both envision and achieve good lifelong health.
Healthy Harrison, in partnership with United Health Center, West Virginia University, WVU Medicine, and the Harrison County Board of Education, works to create positive and healthy internal motivation in kids. They seek to change young minds before unhealthy habits lead to permanent chronic conditions, such as type two diabetes.
Last week, John Paul Linardi came to update the Harrison County Board of Education on the progress of Healthy Harrison. He serves as executive director of the organization that also involves other area leaders, such as Amy Haberbosch-Wilson as president, Brock Malcolm as vice president, and Dr. David Hess of Shinnston as treasurer.
Its vision lies in creating health heroes, defining that as “one who is a ‘champion for health.’” The website goes on to say that by using a “coalition with a vision to measurably improve the health and wellness of the citizens of Harrison County, “we hope to motivate, educate, and inspire the community.”
One of the differences between it and other programs is that Healthy Harrison encourages “microsteps” of progress rather than significant lifestyle changes all at once. It embraces the five pillars of move, mind, eat, connect, purpose, that create a holistic approach to health that includes body, mind, and both internal and external motivations to pursue healthier behaviors, values, and lifestyles.
Linardi reserved praise for one local school in particular, mentioning the pilot program “put in at Lincoln High School with the help of Mr. Decker.”
He went on to say that with the support from Harrison County Schools’ leadership, “we were able to connect with principals and really show how this project runs.” Important parts of the process included not adding to the workload of school faculty and staff, “make a difference with the kids,” and “provide some really good incentives to keep them motivated.”
Until recently, Healthy Harrison focused on private sector business with great success. Minardi told the Harrison County Board of Education that “when we go into these businesses, the CEOs . . . drive the ship and expect the employees to get involved.” Going into the school system, initially he said it was “unclear” what to expect in terms of participation.
The “lofty goals” set by Healthy Harrison envisioned 960 high school students from participating high schools involved in some fashion. Instead, they got 1,043 to engage in some way, leading Linardi to say “we surpassed the expectation by 17 percent, which is incredible.”
One of the key differences lay in those used by the program to teach and motivate students. They focused less on “local health experts,” such as doctors and psychologists and more on “high school students coaching other high school students.” Some shared profound stories of the health issues in their families, as well as their personal journeys to better health.
Linardi envisions that recognized high school students in athletics or the arts could better motivate middle schoolers when the program expands there. He also shared that “where we fell short and where there’s room for improvement is that we didn’t show a large number of kids having a high level of engagement.”
Students did engage and learn, but did not always take an in-depth approach to participation. Another bright spot, however, lay in the number of parents who grew intrigued in learning more about and doing the program as well.
Part of the program includes the “Change Your State Challenge,” a program that uses “a comprehensive approach to impacting the health disparities in West Virginia.” Those participating can download the “Change Your State” app on either Android or IOS, create an account, and join the challenge. The current challenge started on August 1 and runs through Sept 30 with prizes for accomplishments available weekly.
Healthy Harrison also runs a “Change Your State” podcast, promoted by Voice of the Mountaineers Tony Caridi on West Virginia News Network and hosted by Haberbosch-Wilson. The podcast this summer has focused on local swim teams. Last week, it featured Sonia McGrady who coaches the Shinnston swim team.
McGrady described the team and the overall program, which features an equal emphasis on fun and competition and does not monopolize the time of athletes who need family time or who might participate in other sports. It starts in late May and swimmers practice at the Shinnston Pool.
The coach also says that her team, though based in Shinnston, attracts participants from Salem, Bridgeport, and as far away as Doddridge County.
Healthy Harrison also runs a “Change Your State” Facebook page with nutrition tips and videos from the podcasts.
