Charleston mayor supports campaign to get healthy: 6/8

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Charleston mayor supports campaign to get healthy

MUSC employees and students have a new way to get and stay healthy. Several local campaigns and organizations are working to improve the health of the community through weight loss and healthy lifestyles. City of Charleston Mayor Joe Riley launched the Lighten Up Charleston campaign March 26, challenging residents to lose 100,000 pounds this year, enabling Charleston to be recognized as the healthiest city in the Southeast.

The mission of Lighten Up Charleston is to reduce obesity by promoting healthy eating and physical activity. The campaign will help residents identify local community organizations, programs and facilities that will help them adopt healthier food and exercise choices.

The interactive website www.lightenupcharleston.org, provides information on programs in the community to help participants get healthy, track their progress and learn ways to lose weight. MUSC employees and students are encouraged to log in and report weight loss, create a group, tell their story or seek help from the many partners in this huge effort to get healthy.

MUSC also provides many resources, programs and support for those looking to lose weight.

MUSC Weight Management, http://www.muschealth.com/weight has been helping people in the Charleston area to manage their weight since 1974. A team of psychologists, physicians, dietitians and exercise physiologists work together to help participants reduce excess weight.
MUSC Wellness Center's Healthy Charleston Challenge program, http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/hsc/programs/challenge/healthycharlestonchallenge.html is a 12-week weight loss and activity competition located at the MUSC Wellness Center. A team of professionals includes personal trainers, a registered dietitian, exercise physiologists, a program clinical psychologist and other exercise specialists with experience in exercise, weight loss, and lifestyle management. Participants should be 25 or more pounds overweight and in need of permanently changing lifestyle habits for decreased risk of chronic disease.
The MUSC Bariatric Surgery program, http://www.muschealth.com/weightlosssurgery/index.htm includes experienced mental health professionals, dietitians, nurses and physicians, and is dedicated to helping patients safely realize weight loss success.
MUSC Lean Team, http://academicdepartments.musc.edu/lean_team is a collaborative program with the schools and community that has been successful in changing unhealthy policies, environments and behaviors in schools, health care systems, physician practices and the community. Support from the Boeing Company has led to the joining of this obesity prevention program with MUSC's clinical childhood obesity treatment program, Heart Health, under the new Boeing Center for the Promotion of Healthy Lifestyles in Children and Families.
MUSC Employee Wellness, http://mcintranet.musc.edu/health1st offers programs designed to assist employees achieve their weight management goals including free fitness classes, walking events and trails, educational sessions and access to healthy food through MUSC's farmers market and the MUSC Urban Farm.
MUSC Nutrition Services, http://www.muschealth.com/nutrition coordinates nutrition activities across MUSC and the community and to promote partnerships, which leads to effective education, research and practice in nutrition. MUSC's registered dietitians provide clinical knowledge and expertise through a variety of resources.

MUSC Employee Wellness events

MUSC's Pitch the Pack Program: Free smoking cessation program offered to MUSC employees and students. Enroll at http://ceii.muschealth.com/SCP/SCPRegistration.aspx.
MUSC Urban Farm: Work & Learn. Learn through working with the soil and seeds in the MUSC Urban Farm on Family workday from 9 – 11 a.m. Saturday, June 9 and from noon – 1 p.m., June 13. Bring a plastic bag and take home some fresh produce. Also bring water, sunscreen and wear closed toe shoes. Email musc-empwell@musc.edu for information and to register.
Farmers market: Fruits and vegetables are available from local farmers from 7 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. every Friday in the Horseshoe and in the area next to Ashley River Tower behind McClennan Banks Building.
Worksite screening: June 12 in 2W classroom (North Tower). This screening, valued at about $350, is available to employees with the State Health Plan for $15 (covered spouses can also participate for $15). Employees and spouses without this insurance can participate for $42. The screening includes height, weight, blood pressure and a blood draw for a blood chemistry profile, hemogram, and a blood lipid profile. To register, go to www.musc.edu/medcenter/health1st and click "Worksite Screening."
MUSC Employee Fitness Series: There will be a free sprint intervals class from 4:15 – 4:45 p.m., June 20. Registration is required. Send your name and email to musc-empwell@musc.edu. Sign in at the MUSC Wellness Center Membership Desk.
Mobile mammograms: The Hollings Cancer Center Mobile Van will be conducting digital mammograms from 9 a.m. – 6 p.m., June 20 behind the Clyburn Research Center off President Street. Call 792-0878 to schedule an appointment.

Contact Susan Johnson at johnsusa@musc.edu to become involved in employee wellness at MUSC. Events, speakers or any other ideas are welcome.

Friday, June 8, 2012

The Catalyst Online is published weekly by the MUSC Office of Public Relations for the faculty, employees and students of the Medical University of South Carolina. The Catalyst Online editor, Kim Draughn, can be reached at 792-4107 or by email, catalyst@musc.edu. Editorial copy can be submitted to The Catalyst Online and to The Catalyst in print by fax, 792-6723, or by email to catalyst@musc.edu. To place an ad in The Catalyst hardcopy, call Island Publications at 849-1778, ext. 201.