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Grant could help county’s residents all be healthier

Published 1:53 pm Monday, December 6, 2010

By Sharon Salyer The Herald

In Snohomish County, more adults are overweight than have healthy weights, a trend that can trigger heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and other life-threatening health problems.

Reversing this trend is a tall order — tall enough that Snohomish Health District is asking for a two-year, $9.1 million federal stimulus grant to take it on.

If approved, work could begin in March, with efforts launched in 16 communities, from Stanwood in the north to the I-5 corridor communities of Lynnwood and Mountlake Terrace.

“This is about … improving the environment for every resident of Snohomish County and everyone who comes to Snohomish County to shop, work or play,” said Dr. Gary Goldbaum, health officer for the Snohomish Health District.

Although Marysville, Lynnwood and Everett have already participated in Healthy Communities, a national effort to improve nutrition and fitness levels, this effort would be more comprehensive, Goldbaum said.

That would mean urban planners could help makes cities more friendly to cyclists and walkers, nutritionists could give advice on healthy eating, wellness specialists could work with businesses and employees to encourage fitness and wellness programs. Perhaps there could even be more recess and activity breaks for kids at school.

“It’s no different than planning streets,” Goldbaum said. “It’s a planning effort … You need to have experts to do that.”

What happens in each community will be decided by the people who live there, he said.

Steps that could be taken include efforts such as adding sidewalks so that kids can walk to school and encouraging the establishment of community gardens to improve nutrition and increase healthy eating habits.

“It’s not about just telling folks this is what you need to do, but enabling them to do that,” he said.

Just how many people would be hired for the countywide project depends on how much money the federal government approves.

But if fully funded, the grant could pay for hiring 36 people to work on public nutrition and activity programs for two years.

Many of those employees would be sent to one of 16 participating communities throughout the county to help coordinate efforts in those cities and towns.

Goldbaum acknowledged that activity and nutrition habits are hard to change. So even if the countywide program is launched, he said he doesn’t expect dramatic changes in obesity rates in 24 months.

“I do know if you offer recess and other kinds of opportunities for physical activity, that over the long term, you will see less obesity and healthier outcomes,” he said.

Sharon Salyer: 425-339-3486, salyer@heraldnet.com.

What Marysville did

Marysville signed on to the Healthy Communities movement in 2007, joining cities and towns across the nation. Some of the steps that city has taken include:

  • Adding 8.2 miles of designated bike lanes.

  • Stepping up street identification and striping efforts with the goal of encouraging walking.

  • Installing sidewalks near schools.

  • Increasing fruit and vegetable offerings at the Marysville Community Food Bank.

  • Establishing a community garden.

  • Organizing the first Healthy Communities Challenge Day, attended by more than 3,000 people, to motivate children and adults toward healthier nutrition and fitness goals.

    • Source: City of Marysville

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