‘Get Into Fitness Today’ Aims To Reduce Weight, Stem Chronic Diseases

A free, six-week fitness and nutrition education program is being offered by the Hillsborough County Health Department at various locations countywide. The aim is to use weight control to both prevent and reduce chronic disease.

Over the years, more than 75 percent of the more than 3,000 people who have participatd in the "Get Into Fitness Today" program have lost weight, according to county health officials.

Here's some reported highlights:

• Participants learn tools to improve nutrition and increase physical activity to prevent and reduce chronic diseases through weight loss.

• Meetings — in a "fun, supportive group environment, free of strict dieting and overwhelming exercise regimes" —  last one hour per week. 

• Participants learn to incorporate healthier options into meals and exercise in a way that is fun.

• Participants, if needed, have access to a registered dietitian for a one-on-one consultation to enhance weight loss efforts.

• An end-of-program supermarket shopping tour hosted by a registered dietitian, to aid in the selection of healthy and nutritious food selections.

The Get Into Fitness Today program was established in 2007 in response to a community health survey that showed respondents believed obesity was the county’s most serious health problem.

The program meets  in a variety of settings, including local businesses, places of worship, and community centers.

Pre-registration is necessary. Requirements for participation include weekly weigh-ins and attendance at all six meetings. Early registration is encouraged as spaces is limited.

For information, call Hilary Douglass at (813) 307-8071.