Nutrition and Health—Through the federally funded Expanded Food and Nutrition Educational Program (EFNEP) and the Food Stamp Family Nutrition Program (FNP), Extension faculty are addressing the nutritional health needs of limited resource audiences. Emphasis is placed on teaching these clientele how to manage their food dollars wisely, to provide nutritional meals for family members and how to achieve a healthy lifestyle through diet, exercise and behavior modification.
Obesity is a very real health concern in the nation and in Louisiana. Nationwide, obesity contributes to some 300,000 deaths a year, and health-care costs related to weight problems total an estimated $117 billion a year. Since 1986, the percentage of significantly overweight black and Hispanic youngsters has more than doubled, and the problem has climbed 50% among white children. Obesity is a major contributing factor to chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
Extension faculty have recently developed two outstanding educational programs on the health-related consequences of obesity—the Diabetes Education Awareness Recommendations (DEAR), which addresses type 2 diabetes, the most common form of the disease, and PORTIONS, which addresses obesity through a series of nine lessons designed to teach how to achieve a more healthy lifestyle. Currently in development is a wellness program to offer to state agencies and other businesses to help reduce heath-care costs statewide.