Nebraska 4-H and UnitedHealthcare Expand “Eat4-Health” Partnership, Use “Pedal Power” to Help Tackle Obesity and Encourage Healthy Lifestyles Among Youth

UnitedHealthcare and Nebraska 4-H are expanding a successful partnership called Eat4-Health that helps tackle obesity by promoting healthy eating and active lifestyles among youth and families.

Bob Meduna, far left, Extension Educator 4-H Youth Development, watches as kids from Ainsworth Eleme ...

Bob Meduna, far left, Extension Educator 4-H Youth Development, watches as kids from Ainsworth Elementary School in Brown County, (left to right) Corbin Swanson, Saylen Young, Cameryn Goochey and Jersen Williams create their own healthy smoothies at the Nebraska State Fair on Thursday, Aug. 28, in Grand Island, Neb. The healthy smoothie bikes are part of 4-H and UnitedHealthcare's "Eat4-Health" partnership aimed at tackling obesity by promoting healthy eating and lifestyles among children and families (Photo: Chad Greene).

UnitedHealthcare is providing University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension, which administers 4-H programs throughout the state, a $24,000 grant to support youth healthy-living programs. The grant is being used to purchase pedal-powered blender bikes that will be used for fun, energetic events where young people can create their own healthy smoothies through exercise.

The specially made stationary bikes are equipped with a blender mechanism that makes smoothies when pedaled. The bikes were unveiled at Nebraska’s Largest Classroom during this year’s State Fair, where 4-Hers, community leaders and UnitedHealthcare’s mascot Dr. Health E. Hound cheered on by young fairgoers who created a healthy snack in a healthy way.

The grant, along with the smoothie bikes and other exercise equipment, will be used to support community events and programs this summer through spring 2015 in which youth and families can learn about easy ways to promote healthy lifestyles. Recipe cards, educational information and other resources will be distributed as part of the program. The goal is to encourage young people and their families to eat more nutritious foods and exercise regularly.

University of Nebraska Cooperative Extensions has developed a plan that provides innovative, hands-on learning and target specific community needs in the state. Many of these activities support healthy-living programs led by 4-H that encourage youth and community participation.

“Nebraska 4-H is committed to working with our 4-H youth ambassadors to share fun, easy tips that encourage our friends and families to make healthy choices,” said Dr. Kathleen Lodl, Associate Dean and State 4-H Program Administrator. “Our partnership with UnitedHealthcare and its support for these new pedal-powered bikes are a great way for 4-H’ers to encourage their peers to stay active and eat healthy.”

UnitedHealthcare employees will help organize and host many of these events, and plan and implement projects that lead to positive, sustainable change at the community and individual level.

“UnitedHealthcare is grateful for the opportunity to continue our work with New York 4-H to help educate young people about healthy lifestyles and exercise in their daily lives,” said Kathy Mallatt, president, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Nebraska. “These bikes and educational resources provide a unique way to deliver these messages in a positive and meaningful way.”

UnitedHealthcare is providing $520,000 to National 4-H Council to support youth healthy-living programs. In addition to Nebraska, other state 4-H programs receiving grants include Arizona, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, Tennessee, Texas and Wisconsin. Eat4-Health, which began in 2011, has already reached more than 210,000 young people and families across nine states through a positive campaign that has trained thousands of 4-H teen youth health ambassadors to promote healthy lifestyles in their communities.

According to America’s Health Rankings®, an annual comprehensive assessment of the nation’s health on a state-by-state basis, obesity is a leading risk factor for diabetes, heart disease and many cancers. Obesity continues to be at epidemic levels and is one of the fastest-growing health challenges confronting the nation. The report can be viewed and downloaded at www.americashealthrankings.org.

About 4-H
4-H, the nation’s largest youth development and empowerment organization, cultivates confident kids who tackle the issues that matter most in their communities right now. In the United States, 4-H programs empower six million young people through the 109 land-grant universities and Cooperative Extension in more than 3,000 local offices serving every county and parish in the country. Outside the United States, independent, country-led 4-H organizations empower one million young people in more than 50 countries. National 4-H Council is the private sector, non-profit partner of the Cooperative Extension System and 4-H National Headquarters located at the National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) within the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). Learn more about 4-H at www.4-H.org.

About UnitedHealthcare
UnitedHealthcare is dedicated to helping people nationwide live healthier lives by simplifying the health care experience, meeting consumer health and wellness needs, and sustaining trusted relationships with care providers. The company offers the full spectrum of health benefit programs for individuals, employers and Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries, and contracts directly with more than 800,000 physicians and care professionals, and 6,000 hospitals and other care facilities nationwide. Globally, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 45 million people in health benefits and is one of the businesses of UnitedHealth Group (NYSE: UNH), a diversified Fortune 50 health and well-being company.

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Contacts:

UnitedHealthcare
Molly McMillen, 952-931-6029
or
Nebraska Extension 4-H Youth Development
Robert Meduna, 402-624-8064

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