Since its inception, the Healthy Weight Task Force has successfully reached out to the community to increase awareness and initiate healthy lifestyle changes. The group has held several community events promoting a fitter lifestyle and highlighting the health risks tied to obesity. Those initiatives include:
- “Walking Your Way to Better Health” appearances by Mark Fenton, well-known author and Olympic race walker. More than 300 people from the community, University of Massachusetts Lowell took part in the day last spring.
- Outreach to city and area groups with information and resources.
- International "Walk to School Day", in which students from the Bailey School in Lowell were asked to walk to school instead of riding in cars or buses. The purpose of the event was to demonstrate the ease in which anyone can incorporate more exercise into a daily schedule.
- Safe Routes to School: "Walking Wednesdays" with the Lincoln School in Lowell, encouraging students to walk to school instead of riding. The program is hoping to expand to other local schools.
Middlesex Community College Walking Program
Middlesex Community College instituted a walking program in March 2007 to encourage employees to improve or maintain their health by increasing their level of activity. Pedometers were given out at a kick off event, and participants were asked to monitor and record their level of activity. Initially 125 pedometers were distributed. People were encouraged to participate in scheduled walks as well as individually. Participants were surveyed in May and again in September to determine any change in level of activity, using the scale below:
Very Inactive2,500 Steps or Less Per Day
Inactive2,501 – 5000 Steps Per Day
Moderately Active5,001 – 7500 Steps Per Day
Active 7,501 – 10000 Steps Per Day
Very Active 10,000+ Steps Per Day
Approximately ¼ of those issued pedometers returned the surveys. Of those who responded in May, 74% had increased their level of activity from the beginning of the program. Of those who responded in September, 87% had increased their level of activity from March to May, and 79% of them had maintained (or increased) their level of activity from May to September.
Overall results:
- Pre-program, 61% rated themselves as very inactive/inactive; currently only 17% rate themselves as very inactive/inactive.
- Pre-program, only 9% rated themselves as active/very active; currently 56% rate themselves as active/very active.
To help sustain the program, participants are being encouraged to walk in one (or more) of several locally sponsored walkathons being offered. Those people who participate in at least one walkathon will be entered in a drawing to win a membership at the UMass Lowell Fitness Center.
