By Andrea Christensen
Utah has a porn czar. Philadelphia has a health and fitness czar.
Appointed by Philadelphia mayor John Street, czar Gwen Foster has a daunting task: Improve the health and fitness of the city deemed America''s fattest city in 1999 by Men''s Fitness Magazine.
In perhaps the largest city-wide fitness undertaking, Foster and Street joined last month with the owner of the Philadelphia 76ers to present a challenge to Philadelphians: Lose 76 tons, or 152,000 pounds, in 76 days.
Philadelphia''s challenge is just one of an increasing number of health and fitness promotion programs nationwide. And although Utah has neither a health and fitness czar nor a widely publicized weight-loss challenge, the state has no shortage of health promotion plans.
According to Patty Cross, Utah County Health Department cardiovascular health director, these programs are essential to keeping residents informed and updated on pertinent health issues.
'There has been an increase in the knowledge and skills over the last few decades, but it''s absolutely necessary that we continue educating with the newest knowledge,' she said.
Cross is involved in the coordination of a number of Utah County and statewide health programs, including 5-A-Day, which is designed to encourage both children and adults to consume five servings of fruits and vegetables a day.
In a state where, according to the Utah Department of health, only 27.1 percent of adults consumed five servings of fruits and vegetables a day in 1996, Cross said such programs are a vital aspect of health promotion.
'I think it is an important component to keep the population aware of health issues,' she said.
In 1996, 25.2 percent of Utah adults 18 years and older were considered obese, and less than 20 percent participated in weekly vigorous physical activity, according to the Utah Department of Health.
'I think it''s important to get people to understand that nutrition is something they should be thinking about,' said Marisa Michael, 21, a senior from Spokane, Washington, majoring in dietetics.
Michael is conducting a month-long health and fitness education program at BYU''s Morris Center with Natalie Lyman, 22, a senior from Olympia, Washington, majoring in dietetics.
Lyman said that health promotion programs are important because many people do not think to implement healthy eating habits or exercise programs into their daily routines.
'I think a lot of people have a general knowledge about health issues,' she said. 'Whether they apply that knowledge is a different question.'
But according to Michael Barnes, associate professor of health science at BYU, establishing good health promotion programs is not always an easy task.
'Good, effective, long-term weight change is hard to come by,' he said. 'In order for the effort to be successful, it needs to be coordinated well, focusing on weight loss, eating control, strength training and emotional support.'