Community News
Library Receives Computer For Health
By
Mar 29, 2008, 18:34

A virtual worksite wellness community is under construction throughout predominantly rural Southwest Georgia, thanks to a free interactive on-line program that can be assessed by personal computers including brand-new PCs donated as community health resources to 14
counties, including Decatur.

“We recognize that not everyone in every county may have Internet access, so Southwest District Public Health provided computers to each of our counties to ensure that everyone would have access to our Hooked on Health wellness program,” said Southwest Georgia Public
Health District Director Dr. Jacqueline Grant. “We feel very strongly that using Hooked on Health can help improve the health status of our residents, in a way that is easy and enjoyable.”

Like most of the other recipients, Decatur chose to house its new computer at a county library, said Decatur County Health Department Director Sherry Hutchins.

Hooked on Health emphasizes five healthy lifestyle behaviors: smoking cessation, stress reduction, healthy eating, being active and getting screened. It was introduced to the Southwest Georgia Public Health District’s roughly 350 employees two years ago.

“It was an immediate success,” Grant said. “The majority of our employees now engage in regular wellness activities. Participants have been successful in losing weight, stopping smoking and
identifying potentially dangerous health conditions like diabetes. It was so successful that we decided to take it community-wide.”

Through collaboration with Albany State University and Darton College, a custom-made computer program was developed to allow users to join a supportive community, select wellness activities and goals, monitor their personal progress and access health-related educational materials. Hooked on Health can accommodate teams as well as individual users. To access the program, go online to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org and click on “Hooked on Health” in the left-hand menu.

Participants are required to register to use Hooked on Health so that data can be entered and tracked, but personal information is encrypted. “Your privacy and personal information is protected,” Grant said. Further, Hooked on Health is free - and the payoff can be enormous.
“Chronic diseases - such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes - are the leading causes of death and disability in the United States, yet chronic diseases are also the most preventable,” explained Grant. “Adopting healthy behaviors such as eating nutritious foods, being physically active, and avoiding tobacco use can prevent or control the devastating effects of these diseases.”

“Hooked on Health can help save money and, more importantly, lives,” added Hutchins. “A healthier lifestyle means decreased visits to providers and hospitals and less money spent on
over-the-counter and prescription drugs. It means fewer sick days and greater productivity. When you cut out tobacco use, you’ll have more money in your pocket, you’ll feel better and you will have reduced your risk of cancer.”

The economic and health burden of chronic disease is staggering. “For example, indirect and direct costs from cardiovascular disease and stroke in the United States in 2007 were an estimated $431.8 billion,” Grant said. “Billions of dollars more in healthcare costs are factored in when you include other chronic diseases, such as
diabetes or cancer. Contributing to the problem is the epidemic of obesity we are seeing across the country.”

Being overweight or obese increases the risk of many diseases and health conditions, including hypertension, osteoarthritis, diabetes, high cholesterol, stroke, sleep apnea, coronary heart disease, gallbladder disease and some cancers, she said.

“Wellness is a process, not a quick fix,” Grant said. “Fortunately, it isn’t a journey you must take on your own. With Hooked on Health, you can be in good company as you take control of
your life, adopt healthy behaviors, avoid potential health problems and catch disease early, when treatment is most effective.”

For more information on Hooked on Health, go to www.southwestgeorgiapublichealth.org or contact the Decatur County Health Department.