The Blue Zones Project

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1 The Blue Zones Project For Community Wellness 1 of 15

2 What are Blue Zones? 2 of 15

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5 Blue Zones Power of 9 5 of 15

6 Create a Blue Zone? By 1972, North Karelian men achieved the dubious distinction of having the highest rate of heart attacks in the world. The roots of the disease were clear. After WWII, veterans were given small plots of land. Lacking agriculture skills, they cleared the land to raise pigs and cows most of their diet was meat and butter! More than half of all men smoked. The North Karelia campaign tackled the region s health problem from so many different directions, its reforms were all but invisible. Face to Face Communication & Common Interest Longevity Parties Opinion Leaders Restaurants Manufacturers 6 of 15

7 Blue Zone Created! They simply changed the environment. Here was a rural community in far flung Finland that: made deliberate decisions, changed diet and habits, adapted traditions, improved people s health A small Finnish region is one thing! Could this sort of transformation take place in 21st century America? 7 of 15

8 From their website: At Healthways, our business is improving well being. We embrace the World Health Organization s definition of health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. Blue Zones Project is a community well being improvement initiative designed to change the way people experience the world around them. By impacting environment, policy, and social networks, Blue Zones Project makes healthy choices easier. As a result, people can live longer, better, and communities can lower healthcare costs, improve productivity, and boost national recognition as a great place to live, work, and play. 8DHE 8 of 15

9 The Blue Zones Project 9 of 15

10 Albert Lea, Minnesota Success Stories: The city built and rented 46 new community gardens. 44% of the adult population participated in walking moais, logging over 75 million steps in one year. Nearly 1,000 people attended Purpose workshops. Schools banned eating in hallways and stopped selling candy for fundraisers. Outcomes After One Year: Participants added an average 2.9 (projected) years to their lifespan. Healthcare claims for city workers dropped 49%. Participating businesses saw a 21% decline in absenteeism. The Blue Zones Project helped our community set amazing, aggressive, and achievable strategies that moved the public health agenda further in ten months than I could have expected in ten years. Lois Ahern, Director of Freeborn County Health (retired) 10 of 15

11 Klamath Falls, Oregon Klamath Falls has struggled for years with low health rankings and a sluggish economy, but we ve been working hard to change that, said Klamath County Commissioner and Blue Zones Project Klamath Falls Co Chair Kelley Minty Morris. As Oregon s first Blue Zones Project Demonstration Site, Klamath Falls is seeing amazing results already. Whether it s increasing access to nutritious food, connecting trails and sidewalks, or transforming the places people spend the most time, Blue Zones Project is about building a sense of pride, creating more economic opportunity, and improving quality of life of 15

12 Why Us? Why Now? Health and Wellness are on the forefront of Ukiah s community model. People want a healthier lifestyle for themselves and their families. Ukiah needs programs that will attract professionals to our area: physicians, educators, business people. Interest is high for the Blue Zones Project. 12 of 15

13 Commit to our Community The Blue Zones Project is dedicated to helping towns become better places to live, work and play. Designation is one way to measure and reward the progress various organizations are achieving in your community! There are four designations available for organizations: Worksite: Empowering employees to be happier, healthier and more productive by creating healthier work environments. Restaurant: Delivering greater service to patrons by making it easier to choose healthier foods. Grocery Store: Guiding customers to make healthy choices through food placement and promotion. School: Optimizing the school environment so that students eat better and are more active. Together We Can Lead the Way! 13 of 15

14 Leading the Way Castle Medical Center has become the first worksite in Hawaii to be Blue Zone Project Approved. 14 of 15

15 Community Strategy City Leaders Ukiah Unified School District Business Leaders Medical Community Media You! Create Coalition Engage Blue Zones Project / Healthways Collect and analyze data related to health of our community Identify defining projects that demonstrate our readiness 15 of 15