Goal: Reduce the Percentage of Adults and Children in Lake County Who are Overweight
or Obese
Through the Rx for Health initiative, residents walk in forest preserves
throughout the county accompanied by a naturalist and a physician.
Created as a collaborative effort by the Health
countywide collaborative branding effort called Lake
Department, the Lake County Forest Preserve District
County Life.
and NorthShore University HealthSystem, the Rx for
Health: Walking in Nature initiative invited
residents to walk in preserves while talking with a
naturalist and a physician. Launched in 2014, it aligns
with the Health Department’s Live Well Lake County
initiative to increase physical activity, healthy eating
and quality of life opportunities to reduce the number
of adults and children in the county who are over-
During 2015, nine walks took place in forest
preserves throughout the county. In 2016, the Health
Department will continue to promote the event to
patients at its community health centers and help
community partners use the walks as opportunities to
engage with their priority populations. Eight walks have
been planned for 2016 between April 15 and October 15.
weight or obese. The initiative is also part of a
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