PARTNERS | HEALTHY CITY  | HOW HEALTHY | VISION | SUMMIT | PRIORITIES | FUNCTIONS | CITY OF FALL RIVER

January 2012

A year ago in this column, I wrote about the benefits of moving to lower carbohydrate diets supported by a growing body of research. Reducing or eliminating refined flours, potatoes, rice and other starchy vegetables along with sweets and sugared beverages from the diet was described by Walter Willett, M.D., chairman of the Department of Nutrition at the Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH), as the key to reversing the nation’s obesity problem and the growing incidence of diabetes. Dozens of studies, many from HSPH researchers, have shown that low-fat diets are no better for health than moderate- or high-fat diets—and for many people, may be worse. (Click here for the full article in WORD).

“If you haven’t gotten your flu shot so far this year, it’s not too late,” states Greater Fall River Medical Reserve Corps director Alvin McMahon. “And, if you get your shot at a local public health office, you might see one of the nurses on national television next year!”   According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, influenza activity in the United States remains low at this time but is expected to increase in the coming weeks. McMahon advises that the flu virus is most active during January, February and March, and vaccinations  given at any time during these months will become effective within ten days of receiving it. (Click here for the full article in WORD).

Mass In Motion moving to create more active lifestyles in Fall River

"Get Up and Get Moving" is the message we are hearing on television, the radio, and in the print media. Maybe you have been thinking about how to adopt a healthier lifestyle?  How can you and your children or grandchildren be more physically active while having fun?  For the past two and a half years, Mass in Motion - Fall River has been heavily involved in a number of projects in and around the City that will make it easier for you and others to lead an active, healthy life. “Imagine a city that is friendly for bicycles and pedestrians,” says Mass in Motion coordinator, Julianne Kelly. “Then get involved in making it happen!” (Click here for the full article in WORD)

August 2011

Tobacco going "under the radar" to keep lure in young customers

A front page article in the August 11th edition of the Herald News ("Budget cuts have gutted anti-smoking programs in Massachusetts") decried the massive cutbacks in funding for anti-tobacco initiatives. Funding has dropped more than 90 percent in the past decade, leaving fewer resources to counter the ongoing sales of tobacco products to nearly a third of Fall River residents. While all this has been happening, tobacco companies have been busy launching a whole new line of products designed to be used in settings where smoking is prohibited by law or regulation. These so-called "smokeless" tobacco products now account for an increasing percentage of all tobacco sales and, more alarmingly, a greater percentage of use among young people. (Click here for WORD version of the full article.)

July 2011

Locally-grown produce offers better nutritional value

One of the best things about summer is the abundance of fresh, locally-grown produce available at farmers' markets and roadside stands on quiet country roads. Bursting with fresh corn, tomatoes, peppers cucumbers, zucchini, beans and a whole host of other favorites, these wonderful alternatives to supermarkets beckon anyone with a love of good food to enjoy food at its very best. For Fall River shoppers, we are fortunate to have three markets: one at Ruggles Park on Wednesday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., one on Old Second Street just south of Government Center on Thursdays from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., and the long-standing Saturday market at Kennedy Park along Bradford Avenue that runs from 7:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. (Click here for WORD version of the full article.)

June 2011

Campaign seeks to make Fall River 's summer soda-free

On a typical day in the United States , 80% of youth and 63% of adults consume at least one sugar-sweetened beverage. The average person eats almost 100 pounds of sugar a year—that's more than half a cup of sugar and 420 extra calories each day! The single biggest source is sugary sodas. Teens now consume twice as much soda as milk, though soda has no nutritional value. The calories from drinking one 12-ounce can of sugar sweetened beverage per day (150 kcal) can result in gaining 15 extra pounds per year, or 25 extra pounds for a 20-ounce bottle of soda. Because of these facts, and the rising incidence of overweight children in Fall River , the Healthy City Fall River initiative is launching a Soda-Free Summer Pledge campaign to encourage young people to voluntarily reduce their consumption of soda and other sugar-sweetened beverages this summer. (Click here for WORD version of the full article.)

May 2011

Social networking the key to employee health improvement

Many people were startled to hear a report published several years ago that obesity may be a contagious disease. Dr. Nicholas Christakis, a physician and professor of medical sociology at Harvard Medical School , reported on research that demonstrated that people were most likely to become obese when a friend became obese. Christakis has since gone on to publish other studies on the influence of social networks on health, each one demonstrating the powerful effect that family members, friends and even friends of friends can have on our behavior. Though this finding might lead one to think that social networks lead only to undesirable health outcomes, Dr. Rajiv Kumar, founder and chief medical officer of Shape Up Rhode Island, believes that social networks can have just as powerful effect on improving health. Kumar has been developing programs in workplaces across the country that use social influence among employees to get them involved in activities that can lead to positive health outcomes such as increased physical exercise and weight loss. (Click here for WORD version of the full article.)

April 2011

This is the time of year when nearly everyone starts to notice the explosion of plants all around us and when some of us start to think about putting a spade into the ground to get our gardens started. Nothing beats a warm spring day and the chance to feel the texture of the earth as we get it ready for new plants or seeds! Gardening not only offers the rewards of freshly-picked tomatoes, lettuce, corn, peppers, onions, cucumbers, squash, and a myriad of other vegetables brimming with healthy nutrients, it also provides the added benefit of stretching, bending, and lifting that one would have to pay a fitness class instructor to provide. And the nice thing is, one can work at one's own pace and not have to keep up with the class! (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

March 2011

Commissioner Reviews Fall River's approach to fitness & nutrition

Massachusetts Commissioner of Agricultural Resources Scott Soares visited the Tansey School last Friday to learn more about how Fall River is dealing with the national obesity crisis and found an amazing array of approaches to addressing the problem. Joined by Mayor William Flanagan and UMass Amherst College of Natural Sciences Dean Steve Goodwin, the Commissioner heard that efforts to reduce Fall River's 28.6% obesity rate (vs. 21% statewide) are taking place on a number of fronts, each of which can address one of many aspects of the problem. Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

February 2011

It's time to start getting those bicycles ready for spring!

  It's hard to believe that March starts next week, and with that we'll start to get some warmer weather that's perfect for riding a bicycle. So, now is the time to start thinking about getting your bike in shape so you'll be ready when that first nice day arrives. If you have children, you might want to check to be sure the seats are at the right height and that helmets fit right after a winter of growing bodies. And, if you plan to take your bikes to another place to ride, now is also a good time to get the bike rack on the car so that process won't take time away from your ride on the next nice day. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.) 

January 2011

Low carb diets endorsed for weight loss and health

For the past thirty years, Americans have been hearing one message about weight loss and healthy diets: avoid fat at all cost! Now another message is beginning to gain traction following a number of research studies: some types of fat are good for us and losing weight may be easier and more long-lasting if we reduce the type and percentage of calories from carbohydrates in our diet. The clearest statement on the subject was delivered at the American Dietetic Association Conference in Boston this past November by none other than Dr. Walter Willett, director of the nutrition department at Harvard University ’s School of Public Health who was quoted in recent news articles as saying. “If anything, the literature shows a slight advantage of the high fat diet,” he said.  (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

December 2010

New grants address Fall River's health promotion priorities

If you live in Fall River, you're more likely to smoke, suffer from substance or mental illness and to die of cancer than people living in other parts of the Commonwealth. In most cases, Fall River residents are twice as likely to experience these conditions when compared with others in the state. While there are many factors that contribute to these rates, including our high unemployment rates and stress associated with poverty, the most important question to ask is what are we doing about it. In the last month, three major grants have recently been announced that specifically target these conditions and, in time, could begin to bring these high numbers down. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

November 2010

Tomorrow, we will all celebrate the only American holiday that is centered around a meal. While Thanksgiving is a wonderful day not only for the food but for the relationships that are enjoyed that day, it is the day-to-day food that we consume that has increasingly become a concern in this country. Behind the much-covered problem of obesity is an even more important issue of nutrition, especially when it comes to our children. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

October 2010

Just over a week ago, hundreds of Fall River school children did something they rarely do -- they walked to school! Though International Walk to School Day, October 6th, brought too much rain for a local version of the event, October 13th was a sunny day, perfect to encourage even the most reluctant student to try an alternative to getting to school by automobile. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

September 2010

Farmers' Market tokens now available for EBT users

Most Americans still don’t eat enough vegetables, and fruit consumption is actually dropping a little, according to a report released two weeks ago by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The study found that last year about one-third of U.S. adults consumed fruit or fruit juice at least twice a day. That’s down slightly from more than 34 percent in 2000. Only about 26 percent ate vegetables three or more times a day, the same as in 2000. The statistics come from a telephone survey of hundreds of thousands of Americans. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

August 2010

Open Space Plan describes a vision for active lifestyles

Creating a healthy community takes planning. Opportunities for recreation and support for active lifestyles don't just happen by themselves. That is why the Fall River "Mass In Motion" project has been a key player in writing the current Open Space and Recreation Plan for the City of Fall River . The 150-page document, the third produced by the City, is in its final stages of review prior to implementation for the next five-year cycle. With an inventory of the City's open space and recreation facilities, a brief history of the City,  and descriptions of waterways, soils, and geological aspects, it will serve as a guide for future expansion of the resources available to those who live or work in the City. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

July 2010

Wellness resources are now available for the small employer

Owners and managers of many small businesses in Fall River have never faced such difficult challenges. The struggling economy has forced each of them to work harder, smarter and leaner than they have ever had to before. Employees, too, are asked to do more and to work harder, often covering for vacant positions until the economy shows signs of a recovery. Under these circumstances, little attention can be given to providing "extras" at the worksite as every minute has to be focused on getting the job done. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

June 2010

Fresh local produce available all over town!

Over the past several weeks, farmers from Berkley , Dartmouth , Swansea and Westport have been bringing their crops, including spinach, lettuce and even strawberries, to Fall River 's two farmers' markets. Held every Saturday morning (7:00 a.m.-1:30 p.m., through Nov.27th)  at Kennedy Park in the South End and every Wednesday morning (9:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m., through November 24th) at Ruggles Park, corner of Seabury and Pine Streets, in the North End. As the summer proceeds, the range of fresh fruits and vegetables offered at each market will grow to include corn, tomatoes, beans, cucumbers, squash, cabbage, carrots, eggplant, potatoes, sweet potatoes, peppers, onions, melons, plums, watermelon, grapes, peaches, apples and much, much more. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

May 2010

What did you learn in school this year?

In just a few weeks, the school year will be wrapping up and thousands of Fall River public school children will soon be enjoying a summer without classes, tests and textbooks. A fair question to ask these children, as well as their parents and school administrators, would be “What did you learn in school this year?” One answer that might be different this year, especially for children in grades one, two and three, is “I learned how to eat and move in order to grow up healthy.” (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

April 2010

The Fall River Fitness Challenge finishes strong in its third year  

When the "Cougars", a team of four women started the Fitness Challenge in January, they had no idea of what it would be like. By the final weeks of the four-month experience, however, they were glad they signed up. "It's been a very positive experience," said Christine Gillespie of the team. "I feel better; I have more strength; and I deal better with stress," she said. In addition, she and her other team members have lost over sixty pounds collectively, and she attributes this primarily to the motivation that her team provides to keep at the exercise classes three to four times a week. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

March 2010

Now is the time to Spring into action with a community garden!

The longer daylight hours and warmer days are getting many people into the mood to get down and dirty with a little vegetable gardening. Some have already begun planting the hardier vegetables, such as spinach, lettuce and peas, even before the last danger of frost is over. All gardeners are eagerly anticipating the coming bounty of fresh, home-grown vegetables, far more delicious than any you can buy in the supermarket—and much more nutritious to boot. Nothing beats the taste of an ear of corn or a ripe tomato that you've raised yourself and picked just hours before you eat it! (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

February 2010

Healthy parks need citizen advocates!

Believe it or not, spring is just a few weeks away! With the start of spring comes a desire to be outdoors after a long, snowy winter. What better place to go than one of Fall River's twelve parks, fourteen playgrounds or the Bioreserve, a large wooded area of the City accessible to the public. What you may find, however, is that some of these facilities are either in disrepair or not well developed. Starting this spring, though, you can join a newly-formed group of Urban Park Advocates that is working to make sure those parks and open spaces are welcoming and user-friendly. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

January 2010

Health is not only good for you, it's good for business, too!

While improving your health status may be something you or your doctor may desire, it is becoming increasingly clear that a healthy lifestyle is also good for business. Businesses in Fall River and across the Southcoast are looking for ways of keeping their employees healthier and offering healthier products to their customers. Some of our local restaurants are even looking to health as a way to bring in more customers. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

December 2009

Healthy City Survey reveals progress, challenges for the next 5 years

The good news is that, as far as Fall River 's health goes, things are getting better! A survey conducted between July and September of 613 people who live, work or attend school in Fall River revealed that improvements have been made in most of the fifteen goals that the Healthy City initiative set out to reach in the past five years. Conditions in the City were perceived to have improved in eleven of the fifteen measures that over 500 people throughout the City selected in the fall of 2003 as necessary to make Fall River a healthier place to live and work. The Healthy City initiative developed a five-year plan  to address those issues and began its work in the fall of 2004. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

November 2009

Cessation results are encouraging for Fall River Smokers

A week ago, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH) released a report that was full of good news for smokers in Fall River . The study issued by the DPH found that support for MassHealth patients enrolled in the state's medical insurance plan for the poor who want to quit is having immediate results. An astounding 26% of MassHealth patients were able to quit when patients began receiving counseling and medications to help them quit smoking. They also made fewer trips to emergency rooms because of asthma, and there was a trend toward fewer life-threatening heart attacks. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

October 2009

Industrial Park walking route shows path to health for employers

Last week, leaders of the Airport Road Industrial Park announced the opening of a new three and a quarter mile walking and bicycle route specifically targeted at the over 4,000 employees that work at companies in the Park. The route is marked along both sides of the roads that connect the companies in the Park and is marked with maps that lay out five routes of different lengths. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

September 2009

Mass In Motion project invites policy and environmental changes

For a look at what the “walk-ability” and “bike-ability” of Fall River could be, take a trip over to Meridian Street in the North End.  Here Fall River officials gathered last week to announce the start of Mass In Motion, a two-year effort to encourage local leaders to create policies, systems and environmental changes that will invite and encourage Fall River residents to engage in healthy behavior.  New sidewalk on both sides of the two-mile-long Meridian Street and line striping defining a bicycle path, changed a street designed exclusively for automobiles into an inviting walking and cycling route for everyone living in that part of town. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

August 2009

Healthy City survey offers chance to suggest healthy changes!

Healthy City Fall River began in the summer of 2003 with a city-wide survey of over 1,000 people who live or work in the City. The survey asked one simple question: What do you think would make Fall River a healthier place to live and work? The responses to that question, which can still be found on the HealthyCityFallRiver.org web site, formed the basis for the five Action Priority Areas that have been the focus of the project ever since. Over 200 separate projects designed to improve citizen health have been formed or identified over the past five years in those Areas and are described on the web site. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

June 2009

Two new sources for healthy eating – and exercise!

For anyone seeking to live a healthier lifestyle in Fall River , things have just gotten better! With the announcement two weeks ago of more than twenty Healthy Dining restaurants in Fall River and the addition of four new community gardens, anyone who wants to eat better and get a little additional exercise while walking to the restaurants or working in the gardens now has some additional sources. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

May 2009

MyFallRiver.org web site can improve the health of our community!

At the recent Civic Engagement Summit held at the University of Massachusetts-Dartmouth , Dr. Clyde Barrow reported on how involved people living in Southcoast Massachusetts were in their communities compared with people in the rest of the United States . Unfortunately, we didn’t do so well. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

April 2009

Vegetable Gardening – the perfect healthy activity!

As the Healthy City Fall River coordinator, if I were asked to name the perfect healthy activity, it would have to be vegetable gardening. I can think of nothing else in life that combines the heart-healthy benefits of vigorous labor and stretching with the absolute pleasure of eating the best food that Nature has to offer! (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

March 2009

Job loss requires a pro-active approach to maintaining health

One of the most devastating events that can happen to anyone is the loss of a job. While loss of a predictable source of income is the chief factor, the loss of important social networks, the absence of routine and the threat to one’s identity can all add up to a real crisis. Even worse, from the standpoint of mental health, job loss can result in major symptoms of anxiety, stress and depression. These symptoms, in turn, may produce an increased risk of a number of both acute and chronic illnesses, such as heart disease. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

February 2009

Shift to policy development is the next step in improving health

Mark Fenton, host of the PBS television series “ America ’s Walking” and a vocal pedestrian advocate, tells a story about encountering an obviously overweight man walking past him at a vigorous pace. Mark asked him how long he has been walking for exercise, and the man corrected him saying, “I’m not exercising; I’m just trying to save money. I’m walking to that far lot where parking happens to be free.” After trying for decades to get more Americans to walk, Mark suddenly realized that perhaps promoting walking groups wasn’t necessarily the best way to go. What really needs to happen, he concluded, is that we have to design our environment so that people will incorporate walking into their lives for reasons other than health. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

January 2009

When it comes to getting fit, quitting smoking leads the pack!

Hundreds of people throughout Fall River have signed up and weighed in for the second annual Fitness Challenge, a city-wide invitation for people to use the next four months to improve some aspect of their health. While most intend to shed a few pounds and increase their physical fitness, this year’s Challenge has added smoking cessation to the mix in recognition of the fact that nearly one-third of adults in Fall River smoke. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

November 2008

Healthy dining easier at some restaurants

With Thanksgiving and the other holidays coming up, lots of good eating opportunities will soon be available. For many, the holidays mean time at home to enjoy cooking and preparing traditional favorites. Eating, after all, is one of life’s best pleasures, especially in the company of people we enjoy. If you’re one who enjoys preparing foods from scratch, it’s an even better chance to ensure that what you’re eating is wholesome and healthy since you get to choose what goes into each dish. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

December 2008

Support from others the key to Fitness Challenge success

Most of us think that our health is a private, personal matter. We think it is up to us alone to make sure we are eating right or getting the right amount of exercise or even quitting unhealthy behaviors like smoking. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

October 2008

Workplace wellness makes staying healthy easier

One of the best ways to improve your personal health status is to work for an organization that promotes wellness on the job. Fortunately, a good number of people who work in Fall River do so for organizations that have voluntary employee wellness benefits in place. But, in order for them to work, you have to participate! (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

September 2008

City employees benefiting from new wellness program

Fall River firefighters have a very dangerous job to do. Unfortunately, the biggest danger they face isn't fire or smoke or collapsing structures. It's heart attack. According to national statistics, forty-four percent of firefighter deaths on the job are related to cardiac events. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

August 2008

Children In Balance project will address childhood obesity

A great deal has been written in the past few years about America ’s problem with overweight and obesity. As a nation, we are now the heaviest we have every been, and the medical consequences have been showing up in increases in rates of diabetes and other conditions associated with excess weight such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. What has received less attention, however, is the increasing rates of childhood overweight and obesity, now approaching 14% among five-year-olds nationwide. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

July 2008

Fall River preparing for its own summer Olympic Games

As the 2008 Summer Olympics get underway next week in Beijing , children in Fall River will already be competing in their own Olympic-style games through a Community Development Recreation program funded by the City’s Healthy Lives project. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

May 2008

Healthy City produces a “blizzard” of health promotion activity

It’s springtime in Fall River but the city is experiencing a blizzard – a blizzard of activity, that is, that promises to continue us on the way to being a much healthier place to live and work. From reducing access to drugs, to cleaning up the city, to increased fitness activity and many other projects, Healthy City Fall River is taking the city by storm. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

March 2008

Use the walking “pill” to improve your health

If your doctor could prescribe a medication that would decrease your risk of heart attack by 30-40%, cut your risk of stroke in half, help to control your blood pressure, reduce your risk of some cancers and diabetes, and lower your weight, would you take it? What if you also learned that this medication is absolutely free? It would be hard to pass up, wouldn’t it? (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

February 2008

Preparation likely to make health changes more successful

Whether you’re a smoker, or overweight or a confirmed couch potato, even the thought of making a change to a healthier lifestyle can make you sweat! Most of us go for years avoiding taking that first step, but Fall River has a number of resources that can make an attempt more likely to be successful. (Click here for a WORD version of the full article.)

To return to the Health City Fall River Main Page, click here.