The Healthy Begins at Home Group began in the summer of 2006 to address the issue of being overweight in Tioga County, particularly in our children.

Over the past several years, Head Start, a program of Tioga Opportunities Inc. has documented an increasing trend in the number of their preschool children who are either overweight or at risk of becoming overweight.

The Healthy Begins at Home Group was formed to help find solutions to this health threatening problem and to help Tioga county residents learn ways to eat healthy, be active and learn about local resources that offer support and information to keep families healthy.

The Rural Health Network
Tioga County Health Department
Cornell Cooperative Extension of Tioga County
Fay’s Fitness, Inc.
Tioga Opportunities, Inc. Women, Infant and Children’s (WIC) Program
Tioga Opportunities, Inc. Early Childhood Services - Head Start

Food Service Directors from several schools in the county have also been involved with the group, including:
Newark Valley
Owego-Apalachin
Tioga Center
Waverly

In Tioga County, the prevalence of adult overweight and obesity is among the highest in the region at about 66%. Fall 2006 statistics from Head Start indicated that of the 116 children enrolled, approximately 20% were overweight (state average is 16%) and 27% of the children were considered to be at risk of becoming overweight.

These numbers are based on the Body-Mass Index (BMI) which provides a snapshot of a child’s weight relative to their height.

Being overweight is a serious health concern for our children. Overweight children are at greater risk for problems such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and Type II diabetes, all of which contribute to heart disease. In addition, children and adolescents who are overweight are more likely to become obese as adults.

For more information about the group and its efforts call Karen Rice or Ruby McConnell at Tioga Opportunities, Inc. Early Childhood Services - Head Start at 687-5888.