Start the New Year right with latest Healthy South Dakota challenge


Article Body

SOUTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, December 27, 2007
CONTACT: Kristin Biskeborn, MPH, RD, LN, (605) 734-4551
 
Start the New Year right with latest Healthy South Dakota challenge

PIERRE, S.D. – If you’re looking for motivation to be more physically active in the New Year, the latest Healthy South Dakota web-based challenge can help. Register now at www.HealthySD.gov for the Choose 2 Move Challenge which runs January 15 – February 15.
 
“Regular physical activity is one of the best ways to achieve and maintain good health and reduce the risk for chronic disease,” said Kristin Biskeborn, State Nutritionist for the Department of Health.
 
Biskeborn said current recommendations call for able adults to get at least 30 minutes a day of moderate-intensity aerobic physical activity five days a week or 20 minutes a day of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity three days a week. According to a 2005 department survey, fewer than half (47.6%) South Dakotans 18 and over met the recommendation for moderate intensity physical activity while only 23.5% met the recommendation for vigorous activity. And 22.4% reported no leisure time physical activity at all.
 
People can compete in the Choose 2 Move competition as individuals or challenge friends, co-workers, or another company, to compete as teams. Register now at www.HealthySD.gov and beginning January 15 use the site to log each day’s physical activity. Those who sign up will receive free reflective armbands to promote safe outdoor exercise. At the end of the challenge 10 randomly selected participants will receive prizes. 
 
To sign up or to learn more about the challenge, go to www.HealthySD.gov and click on the “Choose 2 Move Challenge,” or call the department’s Office of Health Promotion at 605-773-3737.
 
The Healthy South Dakota website and its regular challenges are part of the department’s Health 2010 objective to help South Dakotans be physically active, eat healthy and live healthier lives.