T O U G A L O O C O L L E G E O W E N S H E A LT H & W E L L N E S S C E N T E R
In Your
HealthHands
Tougaloo College Owens Health and Wellness Center through partnerships and collaborations aims to
reduce the incidence of obesity and related chronic diseases at Tougaloo College and in the surrounding
community by creating a culture of health and wellness.
A Q uarte rl y N ew s l e tte r
Soul Food Junkies!
The Community Health
Film and Discussion
series examines the
African American
community’s love affair
with food through
Healthy APPetizers
Byron Hurt’s “Soul
Suggestions for smart
Food Junkies.”
phone applications that
Page 2
can help you live a
healthier lifestyle.
Page 2
Healthy
Campus and
Community
I s s u e N o . 5 - Fa l l 2 0 1 3
T. L. Love is the Key!
Senior Citizens at T. L.
Love Community
Center learn about the
keys to health and
wellness.
Page 3
The Tougaloo Man
Tougaloo College menstudents, staff, faculty
and alumni- talk about
the qualities of a true
Tougaloo man.
Page 3
Health In Your Hands
What’s Next...
A calendar of upcoming
events and activities.
Page 5
TWEET US
@tougaloohealth
factor for most chronic conditions, thus propelling
the state to the top of the list for most chronic
disease rankings, including heart disease,
By Sandra C. Hayes, DrPH
!
Over the past two decades, there has been
a significant increase in the number of overweight
and obese adults and children in the United States.
In 2010, no state had a prevalence of obesity less
than 20%. Thirty-six states had a prevalence of 25%
or more. Currently, Mississippi has the highest
obesity rate (35.3%) in the nation. The treatment of
obesity and its related conditions (such as diabetes)
is very costly. Mississippi exhibits the highest rate
of adult obesity in the nation and the highest rate of
premature death. Nationally, childhood obesity
rates have increased steadily since 1980 with
Mississippi’s childhood obesity rates continually
among the highest in the country. According to the
Mississippi Department of Education Office of
Healthy Schools, overweight adolescents have 80%
chance of becoming overweight adults. This is very
important considering that obesity is a major risk
Connecting Campus to
Community
To create change,
campus and
community must be
connected. Check out
the community events
that our campus
supports.
Page 4
!
The Tougaloo College Owens Health and
Wellness Center continues its efforts to create a
healthier campus and community through the “TC
Squared” Wellness Initiative, funded and supported
by Blue Cross & Blue Shield Foundation of
Mississippi. The overarching goal of this program is
to reduce the incidence of obesity and related
chronic diseases at Tougaloo College and in the
surrounding community by creating a culture of
health and wellness on the campus.
The specific objectives of this health and wellness
initiative are to:
1) increase knowledge and awareness about
healthy behaviors related to the prevention
of obesity, diabetes, hypertension and
cardiovascular diseases among 75% of the
participants; and
2) increase physical fitness activities among
75% of program participants.
hypertension, diabetes, and stroke, and has high
disability rates. Regular physical activity can
improve health and the quality of life and can lower
the risk of coronary heart disease, hypertension and
Type 2 diabetes.
For more information on this activity, please contact
Mr. George Patterson, Director of Campus Life and
Community Outreach at (601) 977-4437 or
[email protected].
1