LAMAR, Mo. – On Oct. 19 – 21, the rural Missouri town of Lamar will play host to a national nutrition tour designed to inspire healthier communities according to Tammy Roberts, a nutrition and health education specialist with University of Missouri Extension.
The 10-week tour began Sept. 14 in Kenai, Alaska and ends in Brodheadsville, Pennsylvania on Nov. 4. The stop in Lamar Oct. 19 – 21 includes activities with a local Change Club, a community Walkabout with local officials and a Community 5K.
The tour itself has been receiving national media attention along with extensive coverage in local communities.
The cross-county tour is being led by Dr. Miriam E. Nelson, director of the John Hancock Research Center on Physical Activity, Nutrition and Obesity Prevention at the Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University.

LAMAR EVENTS

“Working with local nutrition specialists, this America tour aims to initiate grass-roots, community-wide changes in the food and physical activity environments of eight rural communities,” said Roberts. “We are excited to have Nelson and her team in our community.”

Nelson is the developer of the StrongWomen Initiative, a research-based exercise and nutrition program offered in 40 states that helps women reduce the risk of chronic disease as they age.

In Lamar, Dr. Nelson and Roberts will meet with the Change Club on Oct. 20 and conduct a Walkabout of the town with local officials starting at 1 p.m. The purpose of the Walkabout is to identify things in Lamar that either help or hinder nutrition and physical activity.

Other activities on Oct. 20 will be with members of the Change Club. However, the group will host a Community 5K on Oct. 21 that is open to members of the public.

To register for the 5K, or for more information on other activities related to this tour, call the Barton County Extension Center at (417) 682-3579.

NATIONAL TOUR

For decades, the message has been the same — poor food intake and lack of physical activity is the fault of the individual.

“However, research shows that the crisis we are facing as individuals and as a nation is only minimally caused by our own poor choices—it is primarily a reflection of our social and physical environments,” said Nelson.

While there are numerous efforts underway across the country, the shift is not happening fast enough according to Nelson to combat the ill effects of the crisis.

“Considering 67 percent of Americans are either overweight or obese, a vast number of people must make immediate individual lifestyle changes for their health, but the effort we put in as individuals will only take us so far,” says Nelson,

Nelson selected the 10 tour stops based on the presence of active Strong Women programs in those areas. Longtime Strong Women leaders have recruited local women to form what Nelson is calling Change Clubs.

“The Change Clubs are groups of 10 to 15 women who are committed to staying fit, strong and healthy and to motivate others to adopt a healthier lifestyle,” says Nelson. “We envision them as the catalysts of community-wide environmental changes, which will include providing healthier food for local concession stands, food standards for afterschool programs or spearheading the construction of new sidewalks or bike paths to encourage physical activity.”

Throughout the tour, Nelson will blog on StrongWomen.com and post pictures and video to highlight the work of the Change Clubs and the StrongWomen team’s experience attempting to eat well and stay physically active on the road.

For the past 25 years Nelson has been principal investigator of studies on exercise, nutrition, and public health. She has served as the vice chair of the Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee for the U.S. government and most recently as a member of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee. Nelson has published nine books including Strong Women Stay Young and four other New York Times bestsellers.

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