State Health Director Signs Physical Activity and Healthy Eating Policy

As part of the Department of Health and Human Services’ Health Smart staff wellness initiative, Dr. Leah Devlin, state health director, led a large group of Division of Public Health employees on a walk for the inaugural Move More Monday at noon Monday, October 16th.

Devlin kicked off the event by signing the Division’s landmark Physical Activity and Healthy Eating policy, which adopted North Carolina’s five-year state plan, Eat Smart, Move More: North Carolina’s Plan to Prevent Overweight, Obesity and Other Chronic Diseases, as the Division’s official plan to stem the rising tide of obesity.

“The Division is a role model for every other state agency, non-profit and for-profit business in our state,” said Devlin. “This new state plan will help all of us work toward our goal of a healthier North Carolina.”

The policy Devlin signed proclaims that meetings will include physical activity breaks as well as healthy foods and beverages, and participation in Division worksite wellness activities and facilities on the main campus will be supported by Division management.

The Division also has a stairwell initiative, funded by and modeled after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s initiative, and walking maps available for employees to use to get physical activity at the various Division worksites.

Devlin initiated Move More Mondays as an ongoing effort to model healthy behaviors among Division employees. Move More Mondays will continue every Monday at noon at the Six Forks offices in Raleigh. Similar Move More events are being planned for other DPH worksites. For more information about Move More Mondays, contact Michael Sanderson, the Division’s worksite wellness committee chair at 919-707-5620 or email him at michael.sanderson@ncmail.net.

For more information about the Eat Smart, Move More State Plan or the Physical Activity and Healthy Eating policy, please visit www.eatsmartmovemorenc.com.

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Last Modified: November 20, 2006