TSET Executive Director travels across the state to educate on TSET's work

Over the last past month, I have visited Rotary clubs in Oklahoma City, Durant and Lawton educating community members about the important work that TSET does to improve health outcomes in our state.

Three unhealthy behaviors (tobacco use, poor diet and a sedentary lifestyle) lead to four health conditions (lung disease, cancer, diabetes and heart disease) that cause 65 percent of deaths in Oklahoma. Fewer Oklahomans should be dying from preventable causes and TSET is committed to driving down the number of premature deaths. TSET focuses on supporting changes in behavior, like quitting smoking, eating better and moving more, because that will have the most impact on our communities and families.

Visiting with Oklahomans from all parts of the state gives me the opportunity to talk about our work and answer questions unique to those communities. I enjoy seeing unique Oklahoma attractions like the world’s largest peanut in Durant, or interesting public art murals on Lawton buildings. Seeing the faces of Oklahomans who share an interest in improving health is invaluable and I am honored to be a part of the work TSET does to enhance quality of lives and improve health outcomes. I am looking forward to continuing my visits in September.

Learn more about how TSET is helping create a healthier Oklahoma by clicking here.

Pictured above: TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee visiting the world’s largest peanut in Durant, OK.

School is back in session! Shape Your Future offers some great tips on how to help your kids stay healthy this school year

Making sure your child eats healthy may not be the easiest task but it’s worth it to keep fueling them through the school day. For every meal, it helps to fill up half their plates with fruits and vegetables to help maintain a healthy body and mind. Adding fruit to their breakfast is easy since it can be included in healthy dishes like oatmeal or whole grain cereal. For lunches, pack apples with peanut butter rather than a brownie for dessert. Letting your kids help prepare a healthy meal for dinner gets them hands-on with healthy eating. Shape Your Future provides many tips on how to incorporate veggies and fruit into your meals here. If you are ever stumped on what nutritious meals you should cook for dinner or prepare for your child’s lunch, Shape Your Future has many ideas here.

Apply Now for Certified Healthy Oklahoma

It’s that time of year again! Applications for Certified Healthy Oklahoma are open.

Certified Healthy Oklahoma programs are a joint effort by the Oklahoma State Department of Health, the Oklahoma Academy, the State Chamber, Oklahoma Turning Point Council and other partners who are dedicated to paving the way for a healthier Oklahoma.

More information about the program and application details for all Certified Healthy Oklahoma programs are available on the Certified Healthy Oklahoma website. The application period closes on November 1st.

Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center research is awarded federal grant

Emily Hébert, a TSET-funded post-doctoral fellow at the Stephenson Cancer Center, has been awarded a highly competitive K99 grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse, part of the National Institutes of Health. Hébert’s research focuses on using smartphone technology to help people stop using tobacco and involves sending short surveys via smartphones to research participants who want to stop smoking. Participants will be asked about their mood and environment. The technology will then be used to learn how and when individuals are triggered to smoke. An aim of Hébert’s research is to develop an algorithm that identifies each person’s smoking triggers and automatically delivers messages when they are needed. Click here to read more about Hébert’s research. The Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center (OTRC) is supported by TSET.