STAFF WRITER

jacqui atkielski

and press release

Through the efforts of the Tullahoma Wellness Council, the city was awarded a $5,000 Healthier Tennessee Community Grant from The Governoras Foundation for Health and Wellness on Feb. aBoth are available online and are designed to give helpful ideas and tips for creating effective congregational and workplace wellness programs.a

Both programs and the GoNoodle app encourage participants to move even more, eat healthier, and abstain from tobacco use, said Brooks.

Nothing is more important than the health and well-being of the community, according to Mayor Lane Curlee.

aBy being designated a Healthier Tennessee Community, we are improving the lives of many through encouraging physical activity, better nutrition and tobacco abstinence,a said Curlee.

In Tennessee, one in four adult smokes, and one in five high school student uses tobacco, said Brooks.

aApproximately 31 percent of the population is classified as obese and an additional 34 percent is overweight, and Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at epidemic levels,a said Brooks. aThe Healthier Tennessee Communities initiative takes a local approach to improving Tennesseansa health by engaging citizens and local leaders in cities, towns, counties and neighborhoods across the state.a

To be designated a Healthier Tennessee Community, Tullahoma must initiate and sustain community-wide events and activities that support physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence, and then track and measure outputs and accomplishments of the program, said Brooks.

Counties such as Bedford, Benton, Bradley, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Hickman, Lauderdale, Loudon, Macon, Maury, Marshall, McMinn, Obion, Polk, Rhea, Weakley and Wilson counties are currently working to become Healthier Tennessee Communities, said Brooks.

Aside from Tullahoma, cities such as Arlington, Clarksville, Collegedale, Cookeville, Crossville, Franklin, Germantown, and Kingsport are currently working to become Healthier Tennessee Communities.

aWe are pleased to present this grant to Tullahoma in recognition of the great work being done there and with the belief that it will boost efforts to improve the health of local citizens and the overall quality of life in the community,a Governoras Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said.

For more information about the Healthier Tennessee Community program and other Healthier Tennessee initiatives, visit www.healthiertn.com.

Jacqui Atkielski can be contacted via email at tnrept09@lcs.net.