SAGINAW, MI —

Jon McGrandy's business is fitness, and he isn't surprised a new study ranks Saginaw County as one of the most unhealthy counties in Michigan.

McGrandy, Freeland SportZone floor manager, says temptations to eat wrong are just one reason why.



"If you look at Bay Road, it's all fast food," McGrandy said of the popular business corridor.

Among Michigan's 83 counties, Saginaw residents have the state's worst diet and exercise habits, according

released in March by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute.

Here are some of the report's other findings:

28 percent of Saginaw County adults 20 and older report doing no physical activity in their leisure time

19 percent of adults smoke

Overall, Saginaw County ranks 76th out of 82 Michigan counties in good health behaviors, the study reported. Keweenaw County isn't part of the study.

Danielle Schmidt is a registered dietitian at St. Mary's of Michigan. She says there is a disconnect between the high level of health care available in Saginaw County and the lifestyles led by many of its residents.

"It's a culture issue that needs to be addressed by all of Saginaw County," she said.

The benefits of consuming fruits and vegetables and having a low body-mass index, a measure of body fat based on height and weight, aren't considered priorities, she said.

And health care providers typically look at treating diseases and illnesses in patients rather than preventing them, she said.

"It's going to take a change in mindset from both patient and health care provider," Schmidt said.

So is there any good news in Saginaw's health diagnosis?

Yes, according to John McKellar, health officer at the Saginaw County Department of Public Health.

McKellar notes that while Saginaw is still near the bottom in most health categories, it has improved its ranking in the health study in the past two years.

Saginaw County in 2012 was ranked 76th in "health outcomes," representing how healthy a county is overall. Today, the county ranks 73rd on the list.

The county's "health factor" ranking, representing influences on health in a county, improved from 74th in 2012 to 64th today.

"I was actually encouraged by the improvement in this year’s rankings," McKellar said. "It seems we’re headed in the right direction."

Saginaw County also ranks 11th in the state in access to care. Covenant HealthCare and St. Mary's hospitals make Saginaw a regional referral center.

Choosing health

Lori Welsh, a Covenant employee health and wellness coach, said it’s tough to know why Saginaw County residents are unhealthier than those in most other Michigan counties.

At Covenant, Welsh works with employees who set their own goals to become healthier.

She coaches employees take steps to improve risk factors such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

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Both Schmidt and Welsh said improving health comes down to individuals making a choice to change their habits and lifestyle.

“People have to be motivated,” Welsh said. “You can’t motivate someone to do something if they don’t want to.”

Often, people change their behaviors after a health scare of their own or of a relative or friend, she said.

"At the end of the day, who controls what we put in our mouth? Who controls how much activity we do?" Schmidt said. "We do."

People who want to make a lifestyle change should first address it with their primary care physicians, she said.

There are resources to improve health in the area, she said, such as programs through the Saginaw YMCA.

While the area does not have a parks system like other areas in the state, that can't be an excuse, she said.

Getting started

Diane Fong is chief executive officer of the Pulse3 Foundation in Saginaw, a group that develops and promotes programs to help people live healthier lives.

Fong suggests people can start getting more healthy by setting some realistic,

pragmatic goals.

Changing a habit is about small, sustainable things they can measure, she said.

Instead of making an overwhelming goal to lose 40 pounds, she said, try a smaller goal of drinking five glasses of water per day to help lose weight.

Those types of small changes are exactly what Welsh recommends to the Covenant employees she coaches.

A person who loves sugar, for example, could start by eliminating dessert one day a week. If someone eats fast food breakfast because they don't have time to eat in the morning, grab a piece of fruit instead, Welsh suggests. Other ideas to fit in exercise include doing exercises or walking around the house during a commercial break, or stand up while taking a phone call at work.

Exercising for 30 minutes each day doesn’t have to mean 30 consecutive minutes, Welsh said.

“If you have 10 minutes, do 10 minutes. Those things are very measurable,” she said.

Once someone begins to lose weight and starts to feel better, they become more motivated, Welsh said.

More opportunities

Living a healthier lifestyle starts with education, Schmidt said.

Saginaw County agencies, school districts and businesses are working together on improving the health of residents through the Community Health Improvement Plan, McKellar said.

In March, the group unveiled its 2014-2016 plan which will

examine chronic disease, obesity, infant mortality, behavioral health and emerging models of health services delivery, and then determine ways to implement programs.

There is a monthly action meeting on Saginaw County health, and one of the top priorities is obesity, he said.

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Businesses and schools can also consider workplace and student wellness activities to encourage healthy weight and diet. And residents need to exercise — pun intended — personal responsibility as they are able for their own health and that of family members," McKellar said.

One such program is a

diabetes prevention program through the Michigan State University Extension, Saginaw YMCA and Michigan CardioVascular Institute. The St. Mary's of Michigan Center of Hope also offers free educational classes.

Center Courts in Saginaw Township has an indoor walking track that is free and open to the public. St. Mary's of Michigan partnered with Center Courts to offer a free walking club, said Linda

Buska, Center Courts recreation manager.

Center Courts also has classes, such as kettle bell, yoga and chair yoga.

“We do promote health and fitness and keep the cost down to allow people to participate,” Buska said.

Other community programs include the Pulse3 Foundation's 5K and half marathon training programs in the summer.

Fong said the Pulse3 Foundation can help direct people to various programs in the area.

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We need to celebrate our success, because nothing is worse to a lifestyle change than feeling like you’ve failed," she said.

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Lindsay Knake covers education for MLive/The Saginaw News. Follow her on twitter or contact her at 989-372-2498 or lknake@mlive.com.