Commit to Healthy Habits This National Parents’ Day including Living Tobacco Free
TSET programs offer free resources to help Oklahoma families make simple, smart changes for healthier lifestyles.
OKLAHOMA CITY (July 20, 2020) – Sunday, July 26 is National Parents’ Day and the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust (TSET) is encouraging families to try some small changes to eat better, move more, drink water and be tobacco free, all of which supports healthier lives for Oklahoma families.
When it comes to nutrition, role modeling healthy behaviors can help families reach and maintain a healthy lifestyle — and even reduce the risk of chronic diseases like stroke, diabetes, heart disease and cancer. TSET’s program, Shape Your Future, provides free resources to help parents and kids make healthier choices, including meal plans, recipes, coloring sheets and physical activity ideas at ShapeYourFutureOK.com.
“Shape Your Future, like all TSET programs, creates resources to support Oklahomans in their efforts to make healthy choices,” says Julie Bisbee, TSET executive director. “We want to empower parents to be healthy and to pass on those habits to their kids. When children practice healthy habits starting at a young age, and those are reinforced, those habits last a lifetime.
"As a parent, I know how difficult it can be to prioritize healthy choices. It's easy to feel overwhelmed. That's why Shape Your Future offers simple, healthy tips and tricks online and on social media. These resources are all available for free."
In Oklahoma, 1 in 3 children ages 10–17 are overweight or obese, according to the National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH). Oklahoma also has the 7th highest high school obesity rate in the nation. Overweight and obese children are at a higher risk for bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Childhood obesity also increases the likelihood of an individual being obese as an adult.
With a few simple changes, parents can support healthier habits for themselves and their children. Remember to fill half your plate with fruits and veggies at every meal, choose whole grains and low fat dairy, drink water and be active for 30 minute each day (60 minutes for kids). Visit shapeyourfutureok.com for tips and ideas to jumpstart your journey.
For parents who use tobacco there has never been a better time to start a tobacco-fee journey.
Statistics show that nearly 9 out of 10 smokers first tried cigarettes by age 18, and 4 out of 5 youth smokers will become adult smokers. Children are especially susceptible to influence and are particularly likely to mimic the actions of their parents. In fact, children from families who smoke are twice as likely to become smokers themselves.
“For better or worse, children are learning by watching their parents,” said Dr. Jon Hart, health service psychologist at the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center and director of the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline. “Their attitudes, habits, opinions and behaviors have a powerful impact on their children’s choices and development.
“The example we set as parents matters, and that includes our tobacco use. Children of parents who don’t smoke are far less likely to become smokers,” Hart continued. “It’s important to talk with your children early (4-6 years old) about why this is important to you and share your reasons for why you choose to stay tobacco-free. Your example and story will lay the foundation for them to avoid unhealthy habits themselves and become a great example to the next generation.”
During the coronavirus pandemic, being tobacco free is more important than ever. New analysis of COVID-19 data shows a doubling of the disease progress in smokers and former smokers.
From the positive effects of healthy parent role modeling to the reduced risk of cancer and chronic diseases to cleaner teeth and lower medical bills, the benefits of being tobacco free are many. Quitting tobacco not only improves the former smokers’ health, but also the health of those around them.
Secondhand smoke can cause Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), ear infections, asthma attacks, lower respiratory complications and weaker lungs when exposed during pregnancy.
To help parents protect their families from the dangers of tobacco, the Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline offers FREE, non-judgmental support and customized plans to help Oklahomans quit on their own terms. Free text and email support and free patches, gum or lozenges are also available for individuals interested in quitting at 1-800-QUIT NOW and OKhelpline.com.
For tips for talking to your child about tobacco, Tobacco Stops With Me, a program of TSET, offers parents age-specific tips to help guide these conversations. You can find them at stopswithme.com/protect-our-youth.
If your teen is already struggling with tobacco use, My Life My Quit™ can help. Funded by TSET, My Life My Quit™ provides live texting support, web chat and phone calls to help teens through the steps of quitting tobacco, including e-cigarettes. Oklahoma teens 13-17 can access services at MyLifeMyQuit.com or by texting “Start My Quit” to 855-891-9989. The program is free and does not provide nicotine replacement therapy.
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The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline is a free service for Oklahomans wanting to help themselves, loved ones, patients or employees live tobacco free. Funding is primarily provided by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, in partnership with the Oklahoma State Department of Health, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The Oklahoma Tobacco Helpline has served nearly 400,000 Oklahomans since 2003 and has been ranked among the top quitlines for reaching tobacco users seeking treatment for the last 10 years by the North American Quitline Consortium.
Tobacco Stops With Me is a statewide campaign, funded through the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Trust, that provides an efficient, emotional and highly recognizable tobacco-free message for Oklahomans to rally around. By educating the public about the negative effects and impact of tobacco, the goal of Tobacco Stops With Me is to prevent and reduce tobacco use, and improve the health and quality of life of every Oklahoman. Tobacco Stops With Me aims to inspire individuals to make positive changes—not only for their own health, but for the health of the entire state as well.
My Life My Quit is a free program to help Oklahoma teens, ages 13-17, quit tobacco, including e-cigarettes. Offering tools most utilized by teens, free live texting, web chat and phone calls, My Life My Quit supports teens through the steps of quitting tobacco to be able to live tobacco free. Funded by the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust, these free services for Oklahoma teens can be found at MyLifeMyQuit.com or by texting “Start My Quit” to 855-891-9989.
Shape Your Future (SYF) is a community health education intervention that encourages Oklahomans to eat better, move more and be tobacco free. SYF was developed in 2011 by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH). It provides simple messaging for moms and influencers in the lives of children to eat more fruits and vegetables and to be more physically active to improve overall health. SYF strives to educate parents, teachers, caregivers and all Oklahomans on how to make the healthy choice the easy choice.
The Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) serves as a partner and bridge builder for organizations working toward shaping a healthier future for all Oklahomans. TSET provides leadership at the intersections of health by working across the state, by cultivating innovative and life-changing research, and by working across public and private sectors to develop, support, implement and evaluate creative strategies to take advantage of emerging opportunities to improve the public's health. To learn more, visit tset.ok.gov.
TSET – Better Lives Through Better Health