Get Healthy: Time to get moving Carson City

Today is Nevada Moves Day. This is the third year that schools, health advocates, and officials have joined together to observe this fun new holiday. Declared by the governor statewide, Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell and other mayors in Reno, Sparks and Las Vegas also issued proclamations recognizing this important day in their respective cities. Nevada Moves Day is an opportunity for all Nevadans to take part in physical activity and have fun being active. It is also a chance for the Nevada Department of Transportation and Safe Routes to School Programs across the state to share important messages about safety while walking or riding a bicycle and encourage families to be active together.

Many Nevada schoolchildren will take part in organized events to walk or bike to school today. However, Nevada Moves Day in the Carson City schools is being held on May 8 so as not to conflict with standardized testing. During Nevada Moves Day events at the schools, students can earn fun prizes for participating. Students are encouraged to walk or bike to school, if they can do so safely, or to walk once they get to school if walking to school is not safe.

Additionally, since this is a legislative year, Nevada Moves Day will be celebrated at the Capitol as well. Advocates for active lifestyles, such Muscle Powered, Reno Bike Project, Carson Valley Trails Association, Safe Routes to School, and Nevada Department of Transportation will host an information table in the lobby, and there will be a Senate versus Assembly spinning competition with bikes provided by Red Bike Cycling in Carson City.

Supporters of the event note that physical activity, such as walking or bicycling, helps reduce heart disease, diabetes and other obesity-related illnesses. Helping children to develop healthy habits while they are young can lead to a lifetime of better health choices. Additionally, programs that encourage physical activity at the schools have been shown to decrease behavioral problems in students and improve academic achievement.

Nevada Moves Day is a fun, healthy way that we can come together as a community to get active, get healthy, and have a good time. Come on, Carson City, let’s get moving!

For more information about Health Department services, check out our website at www.gethealthycarsoncity.org or “like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/CCHHS.