Tackling Obesity
If you are overweight or obese, you are not alone. Sixty-six percent of adults in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Our recommendations for you are outlined below.
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Obesity is the leading cause of preventable disease and death in Fountain and Warren Counties. Dealing with any chronic health problem, such as obesity, is difficult. We would like to help you get started. Follow Steps 1-4 below, or check out this website for more help: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/control.htm (National Institutes of Health Obesity Education Initiatve)
Step 1 – Calculate Your BMI
To begin, identify your BMI using our BMI calculator below. Just enter your height and weight, and use your BMI to determine which category your weight is in. (Note: The BMI categories below only apply to adults. Children should get guidelines from their doctor.)
BMI CALCULATOR see http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm for example.
BMI Categories:
Step 2 - Behavioral Change
Changing the behavior that leads to obesity (eating and activity) is very difficult and depends on doing the right thing at the right time. You should try to make changes that match how ready you are. Setting the right goals is an important first step. Most people trying to lose weight focus on just that one goal: weight loss. However, the most productive areas to focus on are the dietary and exercise changes that will lead to that long-term weight change. Successful weight managers are those who select two or three goals at a time that they are willing to take on, that meet the following criteria of useful goals:
Effective goals are
"Exercise more" is a commendable ideal, but it's not specific. "Walk five miles everyday" is specific and measurable, but is it attainable if you 're just starting out?" Walk 30 minutes every day" is more attainable, but what happens if you're held up at work one day and there's a thunderstorm during your walking time another day? "Walk 30 minutes, five days each week" is specific, attainable, and forgiving. In short, a great goal! For more guidance on how to successfully make a behavior change, go to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institutes online guide by clicking on the link below:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/behavior.htm
Step 3 – Improving Your Diet
Most people think losing weight involves being on a diet. The truth is, we all currently have a diet, but for most of us, it is a bad one. We need to improve our current diet by better understanding two concepts: Food Choices, and Portion Size.
For detailed guidance on portion size, take a look at this link: http://win.niddk.nih.gov/publications/just_enough.htm
For more information on choosing the right foods, I suggest these websites:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/shop.htm (shopping for healthy foods)
http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/weight-loss/NU00195/METHOD=print (Feeling Full on Less Food)
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/lose_wt/recipes.htm (Recipies for Health)
Step 4 – Improving Your Physical Activity
The Federal Government has issued its first-ever Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans. They describe the types and amounts of physical activity that offer substantial health benefits to Americans. There is strong evidence that physical activity can lower your risk of: Early death, heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, colon and breast cancers, obesity, falls, depression, and dementia. Exercise has also been shown to help with insomnia, and reducing the risk for bone fractures.
Brief guidelines for physical activity are presented below for different groups, more detailed information can be found at http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/. Additionally, a nice handout loaded with great ideas, entitled Physical Activity “The Magic Pill”, can be found at: Physical Activity Handout.
Children and Adolescents (aged 6–17)
Adults (aged 18–64)
Older Adults (aged 65 and older)
For all individuals, some activity is better than none. Physical activity is safe for almost everyone, and the health benefits of physical activity far outweigh the risks. People without diagnosed chronic conditions (such as diabetes, heart disease, or osteoarthritis) and who do not have symptoms (e.g., chest pain or pressure, dizziness, or joint pain) do not need to consult with a health care provider about physical activity.
Adults With Disabilities
Follow the adult guidelines. If this is not possible, these persons should be as physically active as their abilities allow. They should avoid inactivity.
Children and Adolescents With Disabilities
Work with the child's health care provider to identify the types and amounts of physical activity appropriate for them. When possible, these children should meet the guidelines for children and adolescents—or as much activity as their condition allows. Children and adolescents should avoid being inactive.
Pregnant and Postpartum Women
Healthy women who are not already doing vigorous-intensity physical activity should get at least 2 hours and 30 minutes (150 minutes) of moderate-intensity aerobic activity a week. Preferably, this activity should be spread throughout the week. Women who regularly engage in vigorous-intensity aerobic activity or high amounts of activity can continue their activity provided that their condition remains unchanged and they talk to their health care provider about their activity level throughout their pregnancy.
Step 5 – Maintaining Your Efforts
Once you have had success at weight loss, the next challenge is to maintain the progress you have made. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to this challenge. The lifestyle changes you made above in Steps 3 and 4 need to be maintained. If you find you are slowly slipping back into your bad habits, take a moment to reassess your commitment to behavior change in Step 2. Try to find ways to make your efforts more sustainable.
Our local health department is dedicated to help you kick the habit. Call or email us today and schedule an appointment with Lyndall Salts, LPN to discuss what assistance we can provide. If you would rather use web based resources, we recommend the QUIT NOW website from the National Cancer Institute. 1-800-QUIT-NOW is a free service that can help you quit. When you call, a trained quit coach in your state will work with you to help you quit and avoid the things that tempt you back into the habit. Click here for more information: http://1800quitnow.cancer.gov/
Vaccine-preventable disease levels are at or near record lows. However, we cannot take high immunization coverage levels for granted. To continue to protect America's children and adults, we must obtain maximum immunization coverage in all populations, establish effective partnerships, conduct reliable scientific research, implement immunization systems, and ensure vaccine safety.
For more information on vaccine preventable diseases, recommended immunization schedules for all ages, or other general questions about vaccines, please use the link below:
To schedule a time to have your child’s vaccinations completed, please contact us.
Hospital
St. Vincent Williamsport Hospital
412 N. Monroe Street
Williamsport, IN 47993
Phone: (765) 762-4000
http://www.stvincent.org/ourlocations/hospitals/williamsport/default.htm
St. Vincent is our only local hospital serving both Fountain and Warren Counties. St.Vincent Williamsport Hospital is a 16-bed acute-care facility offering 24-hour emergency medical treatment, outpatient clinics and hospital services to the community as well as support for the overall health and well being of area citizens. St.Vincent Williamsport was sponsored by St.Vincent in 1996 and achieved Critical Access Hospital designation in 2001.
Clinics/Doctors Offices:
St. Vincent North Clinic
1731 Ringer Lane, Williamsport, IN 47993
Phone: (765) 762-4170
Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Physicians:
William Ringer, M.D. - Family Practice
Steven Fischer, M.D. - Family Practice
Sean P. Sharma, M.D. - Adult Internal Medicine & Pediatrics
Linda Berrisford, NP
St. Vincent South Clinic
440 West Songer Lane, Veedersburg, IN 47987
Phone: (765) 762-4180
Hours: Monday thru Thursday 8:00 to 5:00 PM; Friday 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Physicians:
Tahir Hafeez, M.D. - Internal Medicine
Maureen Socha, NP
Renee Norman, NP
Erin Slater, NP
Joseph Furr, MD Clinic
Patty Harlow, NP
203 East Main
Hillsboro, In.
Phone: (765) 798-3995
Hours: Mon.Tue.Wed.Fri 9:00am to 5:00pm
Danville Polyclinic
Keval Patel, MD
B. Malhotra, MD
416 Union
Covington, In.
Phone: (765) 793-2122
Hours: Mon.Wed.Fri. 8:00 -5:30PM
Tue. & Fri. 8:00 - Noon
Nursing Homes
The Waters Of Covington - A skilled nursing facility offering physical therapy and rehabilitation among other services.
1600 East Liberty Street
Covington, IN 47932
Phone: (765) 793-4818
Fax: (765) 793-5047
Administrator: Mark Posey
E-mail: cvadmin@watersofindiana.com
www.thewatersofcovington.com
The Waters of Williamsport - A skilled nursing facility offering physical therapy and rehabilitation among other services.
200 Short St
Williamsport, Indiana 47993
Phone: (765) 762-6111
Administrator: Gloria McGowen
E-mail: awang@watersofindiana.com
Woodland Manor Nursing Center- A long term care nursing facility.
1212 E Main
Attica, IN 47911
Administrator: Faye Pruitt
E-mail: woodland1972@sbcglobal.net
Phone: (765) 762-6133
Fax: (765) 762-0829
Pharmacies
CVS Covington
511 Third St
Covington, IN 47932
Phone: (765) 793-4511
www.cvs.com
Pharmacy Hours
Mo-Fr: 08:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Sa: 09:00 AM - 09:00 PM
Su: 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
CVS Attica
200 West Jackson St
Attica, IN 47918
Phone: (765) 762-3390
www.cvs.com
Pharmacy Hours
Mo-Fr: 08:00 AM - 10:00 PM
Sa: 08:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Su: 10:00 AM - 06:00 PM
Swadley's Drug Store
300 South Perry Street
Phone: (765) 762-3287
Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30am - 6:00pm
Saturday 8:30am - 3:00pm
Other Private and Governmental Health Related Agencies
Fountain Co. Dept.of Child Services:
Investigates cases of child abuse and neglect in Fountain County. Also serves as the entry point for people wanting to adopt or be foster parents.
981 East State Street, Suite A
Veedersburg, IN 47987
Phone: (765) 294-4080
Fax: (765) 294-4315
E-mail: cmason@fssa.state.in.us
Hours: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Warren Co. Dept. of Child Services:
Investigates cases of child abuse and neglect in Warren County. Also serves as the entry point for people wanting to adopt or be foster parents.
20 West Second Street
Willliamsport, IN 47993
Phone: (765) 762-6125
Fax: (765) 762-8017
E-mail: sonyajanssen@dcs.in.gov
Emergency Management Agencies
The Emergency Management Agency is to provide a comprehensive approach to managing emergencies and disasters within our County by providing clear direction in actives that will enable us to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from situations that threaten the lives of our county residents, their homes and their communities.
Joe Whitaker, Director
Fountain County Emergency Management Agency
301 4th Street
Covington, IN 47932
Phone: (765) 793-0833
Fax: (765) 793-0835
E-mail: joe.whitaker@sbcglobal.net
Jeannie Hedgecock-Brooks, Director
Warren County Emergency Management Agency
16 Railroad St.
Williamsport, IN 47993
Phone: (765) 764-7249
Fax: (765) 762-6375
E-mail: warrencoema@yahoo.com
Area IV Agency on Aging:
Coordinates and monitors home health services Preadmission screening for nursing facilities Information and referral service
18 West 2nd Street
Williamsport, IN 47993
Phone: (765) 762-6059
Fax: (765) 762-6059
www.areaivagency.org
Hours: 8:00am - 5:00pm
Community Action Program Inc. of Western Indiana CAP is a private, not for profit corporation, administering state, federal and local programs to those of low-income and elderly.
418 Washington Street
Covington, IN 47932
Phone: (765) 793-4881
Fax: (765) 793-4884
www.capwi.org
Hours: Monday thru Friday 8:00am - 4:30pm
Planned Parenthood
964 Mezzanine Dr.
Lafayette, IN 47905
Phone: (765) 446-8078
Fax: (765) 446-8160
http://www.plannedparenthood.org
Services Offered: Abortion Referral, Birth Control Services, Emergency Contraception, HIV Testing, HPV & Hepatitis Vaccines, LGBT Services, Pregnancy Testing, Options & Services, STD Testing & Treatment