September 1, 2004

After recently challenging Michigan’s legislators and faith leaders to take thousands of steps toward overcoming the state’s obesity epidemic, Dr. Kimberlydawn Wisdom, Michigan’s Surgeon General, is now turning to public health employees statewide to set an example for the people in their communities.

During the 16-week Public Health Steps Up pedometer challenge, more than 2,000 employees from Michigan’s 45 local health departments, the Michigan Department of Community Health, Michigan Public Health Institute, and the Michigan Association for Local Public Health will wear pedometers and track their steps each day.

The start of the challenge coincides with the Governor’s Mackinac Bridge Walk/Run on Labor Day. The winning team will be announced shortly after the challenge ends on December 26, 2004.

“We cannot expect to make a difference in our state’s health status, if we (public health employees) are not practicing the very behaviors that we promote every day,” Wisdom said. “This is another perfect opportunity to spread the message of increasing physical activity into local communities across the state.”

Janet Olszewski, Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health, looks forward to leading the MDCH team in Public Health Steps Up. “Public health employees need physical activity too,” Olszewski said. “With Dr. Wisdom’s pedometer challenge, we can all become more physically active and lead by example.”

Michigan is one of the heaviest states in the nation – more than 60 percent of Michigan adults are seriously overweight or obese. Increasing physical activity is one of the best ways to combat excess weight and is associated with reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, breast cancer, colon cancer, and osteoporosis. However, 24 percent of all Michigan adults do not participate in physical leisure activities – costing the state an estimated $8.9 billion dollars in health related illness for 2002.

“Every day, Michigan’s public health employees tell people to be active and to eat a balanced diet, yet many of those same employees do not follow their own advice,” said Mary Kushion, health officer at the Central Michigan District Health Department in Isabella County. “I believe if we talk the talk, we also need to walk the walk.”

The Challenge is coordinated by the Michigan Department of Community Health with assistance from local public health officers Mary Kushion of the Central Michigan District Health Department and Kimberly Singh of the Mid-Michigan District Health Department. The Michigan Association of Health Plans has generously donated pedometers for the event.