Health District and Chamber of Commerce partner on wellness program

Workplace Wellness Survey needs community input

RENO, NV – The Washoe County Health District and the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce are partnering to help our community get active and stay healthy through the 5210 Healthy Washoe Workplace Wellness Program. 

“5210 Healthy Washoe is a regional initiative to increase healthy eating and physical activity by making healthy choices easy,” said Washoe County District Health Officer Kevin Dick.  “5210 represents four recommendations for youngsters to eat healthy and engage in physical activity each day. Eat 5 (five) or more servings of fruit and vegetables, limit recreational screen time to 2 (two) hours or less, engage in 1 (one) hour or more of physical activity, and drink more water and 0 (zero) sugary drinks,” Dick said. 

The 5210 Workplace Wellness Program will also enable employers to create settings that support choosing a healthy lifestyle by integrating movement and healthy eating into the work day.  "Physical activity offers numerous benefits to people of all ages,” said Ann Silver, CEO of the Reno+Sparks Chamber of Commerce. “People feel better, function better and sleep better, while they reduce the risk of chronic diseases such heart disease, diabetes and asthma.  So to determine the community’s interest in creating a healthier workplace, the Chamber of Commerce and the Health District are conducting a Workplace Wellness Survey,” Silver said. To provide input on the type of program that fits the community’s needs, please take the survey by Friday, March 1, by going to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/XCH3JLN. 

Increasing physical activity and promoting good nutrition are priorities for the Washoe County Health District and community partners. “5210 behaviors are easy to remember, and associated with better health and weight status regardless of your age,” said Dr. Steve Shane, Pediatrician with Community Health Alliance, and one of the leading agencies supporting 5210. Shane and other health experts point out that any amount of physical activity has some health benefits and they encourage the community to be active every day. 

Health officials also point to the Washoe County Health District 2018-2020 Community Health Improvement Plan (CHIP), which provides an action plan for community partners to improve the health and well-being for residents in Washoe County. The CHIP and has identified three focus areas of highest need for our community. They include housing, behavioral health, and nutrition/physical activity. 

To learn more about the WCHD visit https://www.washoecounty.us/health/ .

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About Washoe County Health District: The Washoe County District Board of Health, through the Washoe County Health District, has jurisdiction over all public health matters in Washoe County, Nevada. Its mission is to protect and enhance the quality of life for all citizens of Washoe County through health promotion, disease prevention, public health emergency preparedness, and environmental services. The Board of Health is composed of seven members, including two representatives each from Reno, Sparks, and Washoe County, and a physician licensed to practice medicine in Nevada.