American Heart Association Seeking Healthy Lifestyles

All across Mercer, Middlesex, Hunterdon and Somerset Counties, individuals, families and groups are deciding to live Healthy for Good by making positive changes to their lifestyle. Starting an exercise program, reducing stress levels, incorporating better eating habits, quitting smoking and managing blood pressure and cholesterol are just a few examples of the many ways that people are getting healthy.

The American Heart Association is seeking nominations for the Central New Jersey Heart Walk Lifestyle Change Award, which is locally sponsored by NJM Insurance Group. The award recognizes people or groups who have made changes that have impacted their quality of life and improved their health. Nominations will be accepted through Monday, September 16, 2019 and awardees will be honored at the 2019 Central New Jersey Heart Walk on Sunday, October 13 at Thompson Park in Monroe, NJ.

Heart Walk, locally sponsored by NRG, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Capital Health, RWJ Barnabas Health, Whole Foods and media sponsors WIMG 1300 AM, WWFM, NJ 101.5 and NJBIZ, is part of the American Heart Association's new Healthy for Good movement which encourages Americans to lead healthier lives by delivering science-based recommendations, tools, tips and motivation to build healthier behaviors. Held in more than 300 communities throughout the U.S., the Heart Walk is designed to promote healthy lifestyles while raising funds to save lives from this country's No. 1 and No. 5 killers - heart disease and stroke.

The Healthy for Good movement is based on four pillars: Eat Smart. Add Color. Move More. Be Well. According to the American Heart Association, less than 1 percent of Americans meet the association’s definition of ideal cardiovascular health, primarily due to poor diet. In the U.S., about two in three adults and one in three children are overweight or obese. Around 45 percent of adults are not sufficiently active to receive health benefits and about one in three adults participate in NO leisure time physical activity.

Nominations for the Lifestyle Change Award can be submitted by friends, co-workers or relatives or individuals can nominate themselves. Please note that in order to be considered, individuals must be non-smokers or smoke-free for a minimum of six months. Nomination forms are available at www.CentralNJHeartWalk.org or by calling the American Heart Association at 609.223.3784.