The Charleston Gazette - The Shape Were In

One-mile walk introduces statewide Summer Steps community challenge

(Megan Workman) — Tue, 22 May 2012 19:01:21 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginians can get a feel for the first LiveWell Community Challenge: Summer Steps -- a county-by-county challenge in the state to motivate people to get active -- during...

Girl, 9, determined to hold off diabetes

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- At 9 years old, third-grader Lexi Winnell knows how to scrape a deer hide. She can sing in Cherokee, start a fire with a flint, and beat solid rhythm on the family drum. Her grandfather, Mark Winnell, taught h...

Teen: Diabetes a shocker

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 20 May 2012 23:45:00 -0400

INSTITUTE, W.Va. -- The choirs up front in the Nazarene Church, Saturday morning, running through a version of "Glory to the Lamb." Pastor James Patterson is plucking rhythm on the bass guitar. His teenage grandson, Donovan ...

Teen runs off 100 pounds

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:45:00 -0400

RIPLEY, W.Va. -- Sixteen-year-old Benji Willis got up at 5:55 a.m., ate a breakfast bar, then unfolded a huge treadmill in the middle of the small living room. He switched on the Outdoor Channel and started running. He ran three miles...

Body and spirit

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Freida Smith lives up Campbells Creek "on a road where its so quiet at night, you can hear a bird sing half a mile away. "Honey, Ive got peace now, but Ive been through the fire," she said last Octo...

WVU Extension, Gazette hope to inspire healhty habits in W.Va.

(Staff reports) — Sat, 05 May 2012 19:26:14 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- A new website invites West Virginians to find help, inspiration and information to support healthier eating and exercise habits. The site -- livewellwv.org -- is a proje...

American Diabetes Association is MIA in W.Va.

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 05 May 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Are you at risk for diabetes. Check here. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Three years ago, when West Virginia was leading the nation in diabetes, the Income/education determine diabetes risk more than race CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "West Virginia patients come into my offic...

Logan hardest hit by diabetes

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 29 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Graphic: Logan leads W.Va. in diabetes Glenda and Jill vs. diabetes: We can beat that old sugar Graphic: W.Va. slammed with sugar

BELINGTON, W.Va. -- BELINGTON -- Glenda Blake grew up in Barbour County, an ornery little round-faced girl wh...

This is how bad diabetes can be

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Read more: Recognize diabetes before its too late

ELKINS, W.Va. -- For four hours, Bill Hall used to lie on a padded vinyl recliner, one arm str...

Recognize diabetes before its too late

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Read more: This is how bad diabetes can beWILLIAMSON, W.Va. -- The winter of 2010-11, it snowed a lot in Mingo County. Fifty-four-year-old Everette Ray Roberts ...

Resources: Managing your diabetes

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Diabetes Self-Management Newsletter: The research: Regular breakfast helps you lose weight, concentrate KERMIT, W.Va. ...

The Research: Regular breakfast helps you lose weight, concentrate

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Breakfast and obesity Research shows that, if people eat a healthy breakfast -- not Pop-Tarts or doughnuts -- they are less likely to become obese, because they are less likely to snack and overeat at lunch. A protein-rich breakfast...

Great Kanawha food fight

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Last August, all 261 Kanawha County school cooks were abruptly ordered to quit serving prepackaged food and cook instead, from scratch, with fresh ingredients, five days a week. They were given little warning, and no...

Success from scratch - with video

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 07 Apr 2012 23:45:00 -0400

Graphic: School lunches steadily more healthyGraphic: http://bit.ly/AbNAiI

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- West Virginia has the na...

Hamburger helpings: Two pounds, three meals

julier@wvgazette.com (Julie Robinson) — Sat, 17 Mar 2012 23:00:00 -0400

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- As part of "The Shape Were In," the Sunday Gazette-Mails series exploring the chronic but preventable health problems of many West Virginians, we present the second in a series of articles that feature healthy cooki...

We dont read research; we just do it

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:00:00 -0500
ALKOL, W.Va. -- Research says people who live in isolated areas, who dont make much money, who dont have a college education and who dont live near a gym or grocery store have a tough time staying fit or losing weight. But the five core members of t...

Everyday heroes saving own lives (with video)

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 03 Mar 2012 23:00:00 -0500
Related story: We dont read research; we just do it ALKOL, W.Va. -- In the chilly dark, Karen, Annie, Melisa, Michele and Shannon are striding down the middle of a ...

What happened.

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 25 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- More than 30 years ago, Ric McDowell helped start a Lincoln County summer camp for low-income kids. "When we first started," he said, "we had skinny campers. We were always trying to find ways to get ...

Nebraska school district lowers obesity rate

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more of The Shape Were InCHARLESTON, W.Va. -- In 2005, almost four out of 10 kids in the Kearney, Neb., schools were obese or overweight. "It ...

Rocking the gym at 7:30 a.m.

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more of The Shape Were In DAVISVILLE, W.Va. -- Its 7:15 a.m., still dark outside Wood Countys Kanawha Elementary School. In 15 m...

Jorea Marple: You have to look at the whole child

( ) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:00:00 -0500
Jorea Marple, West Virginias superintendent of schools, spoke with the Sunday Gazette-Mail for "The Shape Were In," a series of stories about obesity, chronic disease and improving West Virginias health. Here are some excerpts of her co...

For healthy meals, a chicken comes first

julier@wvgazette.com (Julie Robinson) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:00:00 -0500
As part of "The Shape Were In," the Sunday Gazette-Mails series exploring the chronic but preventable health problems of many West Virginians, we introduce a feature on healthy cooking on a budget. Charleston cooking instructor and ...

Get kids moving

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 13:08:19 -0500
Read more of The Shape Were In

Daily activity affordable, Department of Education says

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more of The Shape Were In CLOSER LOOK: Physical education required by law The Shape Were In PARKERSBURG -- In 2005, Wood County school nurse Karen Northrup wanted to show that a child performs better academically if that child is phy...

RESEARCH: Couch potatoes cost millions

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Graphic: Active W.Va. residents outnumber couch potatoes (slightly) CHARLESTON, W.Va -- Couch potatoes cost West Virginians million...

RESEARCH: Physical activity and children

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 18 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Here are instant resources for teachers, parents and anybody who works with children: * Jammin Minute: will e-mail you free "instant recess" ideas every week. W.Va. man: diabetes programs work CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- "We can beat this," said Dr. Alan Ducatman, interim dean of the West Virginia Unive...

W.Va. man: diabetes programs work

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more: Health officials say W.Va. can reverse its chronic disease numbers BELLEVILLE, W.Va. -- Dannie Cunningham, 61, climbed the steep hill behind his house, crunching brisk...

TIPS: Leave diabetes behind

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more: W.Va. man: diabetes programs work Nurse Devena Moore, Dannie Cunninghams health coach, directs the diabetes program for the Mid-Ohio Valley Health D...

TIPS: Healthy habits for any age

( ) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 13:00:00 -0500

Dr. Pamela Murray, vice chairwoman of the Department of Pediatrics and chief of adolescent medicine at West Virginia University, offers this advice for better health:
1. Get ...

CLOSER LOOK: Soda pop

( ) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 01:00:00 -0500

Leah Woodburn, dietician for the Pediatric Clinic at the West Virginia University Health Services Center, on soft drinks:
"Typically, West Virginia children drink ...

Thousands of W.Va. children headed for diabetes

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:00:00 -0500
Other stories from "The Shape Were In."Read more: Health officials say W.Va. can reverse its ...

This is a public health emergency

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:45:00 -0500
Read more about the CARDIAC project at cardiacwv.org. See individual county results at One in four 11-year-olds faces high blood pressure, cholesterol, obesity CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- Every year, for 12 years, Lincoln County s...

RESEARCH: On chronic disease and obesity

( ) — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 23:00:00 -0500

Where can I find information about health risks of overweight and obesity.
Thinking about making changes for your family. Small changes add up over time. Here are a few sites that offer information, suggestions and other ideas for healthier families:

Im lowering my risk ... you can too.

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 23:00:00 -0500
Click here for stories and tips from 55 other West Virginians See a related story

Ive added years onto my life

katelong@wvgazette.com (Kate Long) — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 19:00:00 -0500
See a related story here. CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- When Connie Dooley, 60, climbs the hill behind her family house, she passes through her family cemetery and scrambles to the ...