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One easy way to fight obesity in people with disabilities

by Beth

The well-being initiatives at Easter Seals Iowa earned them a Blue Zones worksite designation last year, and I’m pleased to introduce Easter Seals Iowa’s Wellness Coordinator Melanie Asbe as a guest blogger today to tell you about their wellness efforts.

Go, Mary-Kate, Go!

by Melanie Asbe

Treadmill-Iowa client-NCHPAD

Mary-Kate

Obesity rates for children and adults with disabilities are far higher than rates for children and adults without disabilities, according to reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With this statistic in mind, Easter Seals Iowa has made a commitment to make our organization a healthier place to work. We’ve made tangible changes to our worksite environment and have started programs to support the well-being of our clients and employees.

One example: we’ve piloted a Fitbit competition between staff and clients in one of our departments. The Fitbit is a wireless activity tracker that is worn on the wrist. During the day, it tracks steps, distance, and calories burned. At night, it tracks your sleep quality and wakes you silently in the morning.

Mary-Kate Dorrlacombe, an Easter Seals client who has a developmental delay, saved her money for half of the cost of a Fitbit and one of the departments at Easter Seals Iowa contributed the other half of the funds. In just two weeks of having the Fitbit, she lost three pounds. Mary-Kate sends staff weekly summaries of her total distance, steps, sleep, and calories burned, and she feels she’s come a long way since using Fitbit. In her words:

  • I find myself doing things I wouldn’t imagine I would’ve been doing five years ago.
  • I find myself eating healthier and trying new foods.
  • I find myself working out regularly and playing lots of sports.
  • I find myself going out of my way to use the steps instead of the elevator.

PlankMary Kate also says her Fitbit has given her more confidence in her decisions to be healthy. She was able to cut soda pop out of her diet completely and continues to lose weight since purchasing her Fitbit. Staff and fellow clients at Easter Seals Iowa are very proud of Mary Kate and can’t wait to see where this will take her in 2015. Happy (Fit) New Year!

Easter Seals works with the National Center on Health, Physical Activity and Disability (NCHPAD) to support accessible fitness facilities, activities and programs in local communities.


 

Comments may not reflect Easterseals' policies or positions.


  1. oFeliz gabriel Says:

    January 20th, 2015 at 3:20 pm

    Great job Mary Kate. You’ve got my support.I want to purchase one for my son.pls let me know how to.

  2. Larry Elifritz Says:

    January 9th, 2015 at 2:51 pm

    I she has a strong will. I myself have battled a sweet tooth and I also have type 2 diabetes. I am 45 years old and plan to set goals to help me have a better quality of life when I get more older.