The Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness today announced Cannon County has been named a candidate for official designation as a Healthier Tennessee Community.
Healthier Tennessee Communities are those that encourage and enable more physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence at the local level. The program takes a community-wide approach to improving Tennesseans’ health by engaging the local leaders of cities, towns, counties and neighborhoods.
“Research has shown that we are much more likely to change our health-related behavior and establish healthy habits when we are encouraged and supported by others – when we are in community,” Governor’s Foundation CEO Richard Johnson said. “That’s why making health and wellness an integral part of life where you live – and with the people who surround you – makes such a positive difference.”
In Tennessee, one in four adults smokes, and one in five high school students uses tobacco. Approximately 31 percent of the population is classified as obese and an additional 34 percent are overweight, and type-2 diabetes and high blood pressure are at epidemic levels.
“I strongly support the Healthier Tennessee initiative and encourage all Cannon Countians to strive to live a healthier life,” Cannon County Executive Mike Gannon said. “I personally have a lot of room for improvement, but would like to see Cannon County the healthiest county in the state of Tennessee.”
To be designated an official Healthier Tennessee Community, Cannon County must identify wellness champions to lead the initiative that engages people in workplaces, schools and faith organizations, and then work to initiate and sustain community-wide events and activities that support physical activity, healthy eating and tobacco abstinence.
The community is expected to track and measure outputs and accomplishments of the program. They have one year to complete their work.
Counties currently working to become Healthier Tennessee Communities include: Anderson, Bedford, Benton, Bledsoe, Blount, Carroll, Chester, Cocke, Crockett, Cumberland, DeKalb, Dickson, Franklin, Gibson, Giles, Grundy, Haywood, Henderson, Houston, Jefferson, Lake, Lauderdale, Macon, Marion, Marshall, Maury, McNairy, Meigs, Obion, Rhea, Sevier, Tipton, Trousdale, Unicoi, Weakley and Wilson.
The cities taking part are: Arlington, Clarksville, Collegedale, Cookeville, Crossville, and Spring Hill.
Decatur, Dyer, Hickman, Loudon and McMinn counties, Jackson–Madison County and the cities of Franklin, Germantown, Kingsport and Tullahoma have recently received the designation.
Cities and counties interested in becoming Healthier Tennessee Communities should contact the Governor’s Foundation for Health and Wellness at tennessee@healthierstate.org or (615) 610-1880.
More information on the program and other Healthier Tennessee initiatives is available at www.healthiertn.com.
