Munson Healthcare has launched a new “Choose (to be) Well” awareness campaign to inspire everyone in northern Michigan to think about the small choices they make every day. Look for ads, billboards, special events, community activities, and more in the coming months.
Munson Healthcare President and CEO Ed Ness said the new campaign is the result of Munson Healthcare’s desire to help prevent and reverse some of the current troublesome health trends in northern Michigan.
“Statistics show 65 percent of our region’s residents are overweight or obese. As the leading health care provider in northern Michigan, we are committed to putting our patients, and our community members, at the center of all we do,” he said. “This commitment begins in our communities where we provide preventive education and resources that empower individuals to improve their overall health through nutrition and physical activity.”
Community health needs assessments conducted in all Munson Healthcare hospital communities identified weight and chronic disease issues as top priorities. People who are overweight or obese are more likely to develop serious health issues, such as high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, heart disease, osteo arthritis, certain cancers, and other health complications.
Munson Healthcare Community Health Manager Christi Nowak said specific goals of the “Choose (to be) Well” campaign are to help prevent chronic disease and improve the overall health of the region.
“We are not advocating or recommending drastic or immediate changes to improve health,” she said. “Everyone has their own personal healthy weight and it’s not necessarily about BMI. It’s about making your health a priority and being the best you can be. The small choices you make can add up to a healthier you. Each day is a chance to start fresh. We are encouraging everyone to choose well, to be well.”
Nowak said campaign messages and education will center on maintaining a healthy weight, nutrition, physical fitness, and addressing some of the common barriers that get in the way of a person’s desire to be healthy.
The “Choose (to be) Well” campaign builds upon other Munson Healthcare hospital initiatives, including: Munson Medical Center’s collaboration on Shape Up North, last fall’s Culinary Medicine event, the Fruit and Vegetable Prescription Program, and Charlevoix Hospital’s Wellness Workshop.
“We are excited about all of the great programs and awareness around health and wellness in the region,” Nowak said. “We anticipate continued momentum and positive outcomes in the coming year as we work with numerous partners to improve the health of our communities.”
Find more information on "Choose (to be) Well" here.