In recent news reports and feature articles in various media resources there are constant references to the obesity concern in the country. The area is still keeping up with the Vitality Project. I’ve been remiss to get on the bandwagon up to now.

There have been two groups that should have been involved with this community awareness of improving healthy lifestyles. One is the informal group of Family and Consumer Sciences Professionals or the Home Ec Club. This group meets informally for social and educational purposes to keep up-to-date on professional topics. While few of us are actively employed in the field and many are retired, we are still concerned about healthy families. When the media touts successful persons with weight-loss journeys, they are subtly advertising for the businesses that helped them.

The American Association of Family and Consumer Sciences is the umbrella organization that educates the public about concerns with families in the areas of parenting and child development, housing and interiors, foods and nutrition, clothing and textiles, lifestyle management and consumer education.

During the last few years the profession has been targeting the obesity epidemic problem and how it affects families in all of these subject-matter areas. When someone is overweight it affects health care and thus affects finances. Housing, furnishings and even travel and recreation are affected by costs of accommodating heavy people. The cost of putting food on the table is affected especially by quantities used. Too many young people don’t even know how to cook and plan a meal but busy mothers don’t have time to teach them at home and some curriculum planners don’t feel it’s a necessary skill, although math, reading and science are taught in all of these courses.

Clothing costs are affected because of the need for super-size clothing. It really is cheaper to be healthier. Family and consumer science professionals are incorporating the obesity concerns in their volunteer work, community education classes, school classes. The new U.S. Department of Agriculture recommendations using MyPlate visual for planning meals. Almost every newscast, magazine article and even Internet connections are emphasizing the need to create meal planning using half the plate of fruits and vegetables and the other half coming from the protein and grains groups.

The other group that is concerned with obesity and lifestyle and fits with the Vitality Project is the TOPS Club. TOPS is the acronym for Take Off Pounds Sensibly which is a 75-year-old international organization, which is nonprofit (and therefore cheaper). Groups meet weekly to weigh-in and get motivated to Keep Off Pounds Sensibly (KOPS). The minimal membership covers the meeting place costs, awards and educational programs and a regular magazine. A doctor or dietitian provides the diet and TOPS provides the “do it.” Albert Lea has three chapters that all happen to meet on Thursdays. The morning chapter meets at the Senior Center, the afternoon and evening groups meet at First Lutheran Church. Times may be found on the tops.org website.

In hard economic times, this is the least expensive way to “weigh.” One of the hints of the Blue Zones is to be with like-minded citizens and this will improve your longevity and quality of life. TOPS is a way to accomplish this.

 

Katie Koziolek

leader

TOPS MN 979

Albert Lea