State's Own Your Own Health Challenge Begins Jan. 26

Wellness Program Encourages Participants to Take Control of Their Health

Monday, Jan. 26, 2015 |  Contact: Ashley C. Lewis; (225) 342-8518, ashley.lewis@la.gov

Baton Rouge, La. - The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospital's (DHH) Bureau of Minority Health Access and Promotions, and the Governor's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports kick off the Own Your Own Health (OYOH) Challenge Monday, Jan. 26^th. OYOH is a comprehensive program that helps participants take control of their health.

OYOH challenges and motivates individuals, communities, tribes, schools, businesses and churches to work individually or as a team to make small daily steps in creating and maintaining a healthier lifestyle. "Each year the OYOH challenge promotes better ways to track healthy activities and progress. It really allows individuals to take wellness in their own hands, while motivating friends and family to do the same," says DHH Secretary Kathy H. Kliebert.

Join OYOH participants, partners and DHH employees as they begin the campaign by walking from DHH's Bienville Building to the State Capitol Monday, Jan. 26^th at noon.

Participants can sign up through the website www.oyohla.com. Registration is still open to the public. The website offers health and activities, advice, programs and a variety of resources. OYOH is a three-month wellness challenge. Since its inception, the program has had over 100,000 participants and continues to grow through partnerships with statewide and regional partners.

An essential component of OYOH is Own Your Own Health Now. This plan educates participants on how to take responsibility and be proactive in their health. The website offers a step-by-step guide and resources, including managing your health information, talking to your doctor and understanding the basics of quality care.

OYOH Partners: Pennington Biomedical Research Center; March of Dimes, Foundation for the MidSouth; Louisiana Association for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (LAHPERD); Growing Up Fit, LLC; Louisiana Area health Education Centers; the Louisiana Head Start State Collaboration Project; Louisiana Center for Health Equity; First Responders Worksite Wellness and Mental Health; and the American Heart Association.

"I am very encouraged by the amount of support Own Your Own Health has within Louisiana communities," says Director of the Bureau of Minority Health Access Rudy Macklin. "Staying active and making healthy lifestyle choices is something all Louisianans should adopt. OYOH is a program that allows the whole family to support and track health and wellness. Each person participating will be impacted by this program.  As adults and children take part in OYOH, we will start to see healthy changes for generations of Louisianans across a number of populations."

DHH's statewide wellness initiative, Well-Ahead Louisiana also encourages individuals to participate in OYOH. Both programs support individuals making small healthy decisions daily. Well-Ahead Louisiana promotes and recognizes smart choices in the places we live and work that make it easier for us all to live healthier lives, from going tobacco-free to ensuring healthy lunch options or supporting workplace fitness programs.

While all Louisiana residents are encouraged to participate, the program features components specifically for minorities, such as African-Americans, Hispanics, Native Americans and Pacific Islanders, many of whom are more likely to suffer from obesity and the chronic diseases that accompany it, such as diabetes and cardiac issues.

Incentives are provided for OYOH participants. Each week participants who log-in and update their daily or weekly progress will be entered into a drawing to win prizes donated to DHH. These prizes include New Orleans Pelican tickets, spa packages, running shoes, fit bits, gift cards and more. None of the prizes or program efforts are paid for with state general funds.

To register and for more information visit the OYOH website at www.oyohla.com or call (225)342-4886.

The Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about DHH, visit www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow DHH's Twitter account and Facebook.

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