State DOH is tops at urging healthful ways

Hawaii's state Department of Health has been recognized as the best state agency in the nation to address problems of tobacco use, obesity, lack of physical activity and improper nutrition.

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt recently presented the state agency with the "Innovation in Prevention Award" for its Healthy Hawaii Initiative. The program uses tobacco settlement funds to promote positive lifestyle changes among residents.

In a news release announcing the award, Gov. Linda Lingle said, "Rising health care costs place a significant burden on residents, so any steps we can take to educate people on how to prevent disease and health ailments will benefit the entire community."

She said more programs are needed like Healthy Hawaii Initiative "that support smart lifestyle choices, keep health care costs down and add productive years to our lives."

Current projects include creating county and statewide coalitions of concerned organizations and community members to help carry out the State Plan for Physical Activity and Nutrition.

The department has a nutrition education program to assist people who use food stamps and an online "toolkit" is available at www.healthyhawaii.com that employers can use to promote health.