Each year the Johnson County Senior Center strives to inform, encourage, and provide various opportunities for its members to live healthy, productive lives.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), more than 93.9 million adults are classified as obese (i.e. having a body mass index over 30). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that “obese people are at an increased risk for many serious diseases and health conditions” such as heart disease, stroke, heart attack, some forms of cancer, asthma, and type 2 diabetes.

In 2019, the USDA estimated that the country’s annual medical cost for obesity-related health problems was nearly 173 billion dollars.

To combat health statistics like those listed above, National Nutrition Month was created in 1980 to educate Americans on nutrition, “making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits.”

In honor of National Nutrition Month, the senior center will celebrate “National Nutrition Week” March 11th – 15th. Throughout the week, the center will offer nutrition information, activities, recipes, and resources to its members.

“If we can help even one senior to live a longer, more fulfilling life through events like Nutrition Week, daily exercise classes at the center, and volunteer-based programs like Meals on Wheels, then all the time and work is worth it,” Kathy Motsinger-Eller, the director of the Johnson County Senior Center, said. “We love our seniors and wish to encourage them in their pursuit of healthy lifestyles.”

For more information about the Johnson County Senior Center, its upcoming events, or daily classes, visit johnsoncountyseniorcenter.com and click on the monthly newsletter, stop by the center M-F 9am-4pm, or call (423)727-8883.