For Immediate Release

03/10/2023   

General Health Information

Phone: 704-216-8944
Website: www.rowancountync.gov/health
Email: kristen.estepp@rowancountync.gov

Choose Your Own Adventure

Healthy Rowan is proud to announce the launch of the 2023 “Choose Your Own Adventure” Campaign. Choose Your Own Adventure is a Healthy Rowan initiative to increase physical activity and showcases the organizations who are a part of Healthy Rowan. Healthy Rowan is a community coalition focused on addressing the top three community health priorities of: healthy lifestyle behaviors, mental health, and substance use. All 146,000 Rowan County residents should have an opportunity to be healthy. Increasing your physical activity can be as simple as putting on your tennis shoes and meeting up for a walk!

 Participating in physical activity has immediate benefits for your health and wellness. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that being physically active can help improve your brain health, help manage weight, reduce the risk of disease, strengthen bones and muscles, and improve your ability to do everyday activities (CDC, 2022). In 2021, the Community Health Needs Assessment (CHNA) was conducted and found that 44% of respondents exercised regularly. Of those that did not exercise regularly, lack of time and motivation were the most reported barriers. A recent study suggests that just eleven minutes of physical activity has benefits on our health, including protection against a range of chronic diseases like cardiovascular disease, stroke, and all-types of cancer (Garcia et al. 2023). Even with a busy lifestyle, everyone can find eleven minutes per day to get moving. Choose Your Own Adventure is also great opportunity to meet others in the community!

In addition to the physical benefits that physical activity has, physical activity also improves mental health. Studies have shown a relationship between non-formal exercise programs, like walking, and improvements in your mood and mental health by reducing anxiety and depression (Mayo Clinic. 2017). The 2021 CHNA found that over one-third of survey respondents stated they wish they had someone to talk to about anxiety or depression. Walking can ease the feelings of anxiety and depression, improving mood.

 This spring, Healthy Rowan organizations chose a variety of physical activity opportunities that we encourage you to attend. Take pictures and tag us with #ChooseYourOwnAdventure and log your steps or physical activity at www.RowanMoves.com.

Be sure to follow Rowan Moves and Healthy Rowan social media for updates.

For more information, or if you are interested in hosting a Choose Your Own Adventure, please contact Program Manager Kristen Estepp at Kristen.Estepp@rowancountync.gov or at (704) 216-8944. Program staff are available to plan, coordinate, and set-up for your adventure.

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Contact:

Amy Smith

(704) 216-8859

amy.smith@rowancountync.gov

Download Media Release General Health Information-March 10 , 2023