OHSU Health Fair Heads To Madras

Health Care

WHAT:    Oregon Health & Science University is bringing the Let’s Get Healthy! health fair to Madras. The fair is free and open to the general public.

WHEN:    Saturday, April 24, 2010
Fair for general public: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE:     Madras High School (small gym), 390 S.E. 10th St. Madras, 97741

DETAILS:    Let’s Get Healthy! was developed by OHSU scientists to teach the public about their health while at the same time allowing them to take part in the scientific process. In preparation for the fair, Mountain View Community Health Improvement Partnership and Community Health Research Partnership, as well as the 509J School District selected health issues most important to their community, including diet and physical activity.  Organizers of Let’s Get Healthy! then tailored the health fair to address the community’s health concerns.

The interactive exhibit invites attendees to enroll as research participants where they can learn about the quality of their own diet, body composition, physical fitness and other areas of healthy living. Let’s Get Healthy! also features traveling exhibits related to nutrition and fitness developed in partnership with the Oregon Museum of Science & Industry. Additional OHSU and community-based groups will be present and hosting booths at the fair about various issues related to healthy living, such as drug and alcohol use, knee strength and food digestion.

As the title suggests, the focus of the entire exhibit is healthy living. Participants of any age can get immediate feedback about the quality of their diet by completing a computer-based survey. They can also have body measurements taken and their blood pressure measured. Participants, who meet the age requirements, can have cholesterol and glucose levels tested as well as donate a saliva sample for future anonymized genetic research on health issues. The event coincides with National DNA Day and experts will be on hand to talk about DNA and how it’s used in Let’s Get Healthy research.
All health screens are completely voluntary. Researchers use the data to study the scientific relationships between diet, body composition, genetics and chronic disease.  Communities are then invited to use the data to develop programs and write grants that support healthy living in the community. Schools can use the data to conduct scientific inquiry lessons with their students, thereby allowing students to examine information like their own energy drink consumption using real, but completely anonymous, data.

The Let’s Get Healthy! health fair is supported by two grants from the National Institutes of Health.

For more information about Let’s Get Healthy, visit: www.octri.org/letsgethealthy.

About OHSU
Oregon Health & Science University is the state's only health and research university and Oregon's only academic health center. OHSU is Portland's largest employer and the fourth largest in Oregon (excluding government). OHSU's size contributes to its ability to provide many services and community support activities not found anywhere else in the state. It serves patients from every corner of the state, and is a conduit for learning for more than 3,400 students and trainees. OHSU is the source of more than 200 community outreach programs that bring health and education services to every county in the state.


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