The Collaborative’s America On the Move in Ohio program has entered into its second year with plans to extend the program throughout Ohio. The statewide plan entails initiating programming toward specific population groups, such as youth (utilizing, in part, America On the Move’s school curricula), seniors and worksites.

America On the Move in Ohio, a statewide effort that encourages small steps to better health, is an affiliate of America On the Move, a national initiative that was launched in July 2003. The free program encourages people to make small, daily, sustainable behavior changes such as walking an extra 2,000 steps and eating 100 fewer calories each day. These small changes have been scientifically proven to prevent the one- to three-pound weight gain that many Americans experience each year.

The statewide launch of the program comes at a time when more than 60 percent of Ohioans (61.9 percent in Greater Cincinnati) are overweight or obese, thereby increasing risks for conditions such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes and ultimately increasing health care costs for everybody. With Ohio On the Move, the Collaborative is helping Ohioans to take small steps toward reclaiming their health.

As part of the statewide expansion, the Collaborative conducted a mass mailing to more than 11,000 Ohio businesses, in conjunction with National Employee Health and Fitness day on May 17, to encourage them to start worksite On the Move programs. To date, more than 120 companies have responded. Additionally, efforts to boost awareness about Ohio On the Move included airing radio public service announcements in four Ohio markets: Cincinnati, Akron, Toledo and Dayton. Other activities included participation at corporate health fairs throughout the state, and exhibits at various health and fitness events.

As the statewide effort gets rolling, the program continues to host events here in Cincinnati.

Ohio On the Move provides free resources, including: Web-based step logs and goal-setting tips Encouragement and inspiration via daily e-mail tips and a bi-monthly e-newsletter Team registrations for friendly competition Free training and information Web site demonstrations Participation in wellness fairs and community events Custom Web sites for worksites An evaluation tool to track success.

 Since its launch in 2004, Ohio On the Move has enlisted more than a thousand groups to participate in the program. By year-end 2005, documented logged steps through the program numbered more than a billion.

For more information regarding Ohio On the Move, contact Fawziah Ahmad, affiliate coordinator, at (513) 531-0267, or e-mail at fahmad@gchc.org.