Encouraging healthy behavior could not be more important than it is here in Michigan. Consistently one of top-ten fattest states in the entire nation, more than sixty-two (62) percent of Michigan adults are overweight or obese.

Macomb County Health Department launched a project to help stop this trend where it starts - with our youth. "Healthy Kids - Healthy Hearts" is an in-school program that uses hands-on activities to teach fourth grade students AND their families about the importance of making choices that keep hearts healthy.

Lead by a health educator of the department, the program focuses on a different theme each week. First, they talk about the importance of physical activity. They brainstorm and learn that some of their favorite activities are actually exercise. They learn that the heart is the most important muscle in the body and how to check their own pulse at rest and after exercise. Next they play a very rowdy game of exercise bingo so they can each monitor their own heart beats. At the end of the session, each student is given a parent handbook to take home and an activity log. Students learn that they can win prizes at the end of the four weeks by keeping track of activities.

During the second week, students learn about healthy eating. Experiments help to uncover the actual amount of sugar and fat in common snacks and help to drive home the message that intake of calories must match output of exercise. Again, handouts and activity logs are sent home to get whole families involved in the program.

During the third week, the focus is on tobacco and the devastating effect that smoking has on hearts. All of themes come together during the fourth week when students demonstrate the knowledge they have acquired through a game of Jeopardy - Healthy Hearts style. Certificates of completion are handed out to everyone at an awards ceremony and those that earn enough points are given t-shirts.

The county tested the program with 25 students in the pilot year. In the second year, an impressive 530 students completed the program. The response to the program has been phenomenal - parents have been very positive about the impact of the program has on whole families and teachers clamor to bring the program to their school.

And so, our second award today goes to the Health Department for "Healthy Kids - Healthy Hearts."