Healthy Eating and Active Living are essential in the prevention and control of chronic diseases like diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and high blood pressure. These chronic diseases contribute to the leading causes of death nationally and here in St. Mary’s County. By focusing on healthy eating and maintaining a physically active lifestyle, residents can help prevent these chronic diseases (and many other conditions) as well as the complications associated with them. When communities focus on strategies to support healthy eating and active living for their residents, they improve population health and minimize the financial burden associated with chronic diseases.
Multiple community partners, including MedStar St. Mary’s Hospital and St. Mary’s County Public School System are implementing strategies that promote healthy eating and active living in our county. These strategies focus on promoting workplace wellness, healthy eating and exercise in school settings, creating a physical environment within a community that supports active living (“built environment”), and helping individuals make healthy eating and active living part of their lifestyles. Click here for more information on community-wide efforts to address healthy eating and active living in St. Mary’s County.
The St. Mary’s County Health Department (SMCHD) is now offering the Take Off Pounds Sensibly (TOPS®) program to St. Mary’s County community members. Since 1948, TOPS® has provided weight-loss support to millions of people by offering tools for healthy living and weight management. Participants in the TOPS® program attend weekly in-person or online meetings to help them achieve their weight-loss goals. They will also be able to access members-only resources to support healthy eating and physical activity, including recipes, a weight tracker, and fitness guides.
Additional Resources
- Strategies to Combat Obesity | For individuals, families, and communities
- Healthiest Maryland Businesses | Strategies for worksites to support employee wellness
- Smart Growth America | Strategies for communities to support physical activity
- National Complete Streets Coalitions | An approach supporting active community transportation
- National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education | Information on how child care and early education settings can promote healthy eating and active living
- Maryland Food & Farm Interactive Map
- Tips, Tools, and Information on healthy eating, active living, and weight management
- Healthy St. Mary’s Partnership