For many Kansans, participating in the Walk Kansas program – a K-State Research and Extension health challenge – signals spring. This year, the program will run from March 18 through May 12, 2018.
Walk Kansas is geared toward addressing critical issues in our state. Less than half of Kansas adults, for example, meet the minimum recommendations for physical activity (150 minutes of moderate exercise each week). Additionally, less than 10 percent of Kansans eat enough fruits and vegetables. According to the Partnership to Fight Chronic Disease, if Americans were to stop smoking, exercise regularly and eat well, they could prevent up to 80 percent of heart disease and stroke, 80 percent of type 2 diabetes, and 40 percent of cancers.
During the eight-week program, four to six individuals form a team and select one person to be the captain. The team also selects from one of three physical activity goals they want work toward throughout the program. Participants then log their minutes of physical activity each week online or report it to their team captain. The goal of the program is to encourage individuals to lead a healthier life by being more physically active, making better nutrition choices, and learning positive ways to deal with stress.
Even though individuals report their weekly activity as part of a team, it doesn’t mean they must walk together as a team, although some teams do. Teammates, however, are encouraged to connect and support each other. It is common for a family, a group of friends, or coworkers to register as a team. Additionally, with the help of technology, some teams are made up of people in different communities or from different parts of the country.
The cost to participate is $8 per person, which helps to cover program materials, including a weekly newsletter with nutrition and health tips and recipes. Walk Kansas T-shirts can also be purchased for an additional cost.
Information about the program and how to register a team online is available on the Walk Kansas website at www.walkkansas.org. Teams can also sign up for the program by contacting the Frontier Extension District offices in Garnett, 785-448-6826, Ottawa, 785-229-3520, or Lyndon, 785-828-4438.
