It's fair to say Loretta Strandberg went home with a healthy mind-set Saturday.
After testing her blood pressure, blood sugar and lung functions, and assessing her balance, flexibility, grip and physical strength, the 62-year-old was deemed to be in good health at the third annual Pueblo Health Expo.
Not that the retired Department of Motor Vehicles employee had any worries, but "I just like to keep up with my health," Strandberg said, her husband of 28 years, George, standing nearby waiting for a physical assessment.
"I'm just trying to keep up to see if I'm where I need to be, if I'm falling down or improving. And (the health expo) is a lot cheaper than the doctor."
The five-hour event at the Pueblo Convention Center was free. With some of the highest health-risk rates in the state, Pueblo's health fair is designed to educate and promote a healthier lifestyle for all generations. "Pueblo is higher than state average in its diabetes level and obesity level, and it's lower in physical activity," said Sarah Bruestle of the Pueblo City-County Health Department, one of 17 event sponsors. "And comparatively, Pueblo's diet isn't as well."
The need for such a fair is "quite great," said Desi Vial, the co-chairwoman of the expo and member of Pueblo Step Up. "We all know we have a high prevalence of chronic diseases in our community."
A majority of fairgoers were older, but there was a younger element, and the fair had plenty of booths, activities and demonstrations aimed at the kiddies.
Washing your hands may sound easy and quick, but there was a booth designed to show children the proper washing technique and also showed -- under special lighting -- the number of germs hands can accumulate.
There were cooking demonstrations and healthy eating tips shared. There were booths for massaging and information on proper foot care. There were zumba (a fitness program inspired by Latin dance), dance and yoga demos.
While the aim of the fair was an overall healthier lifestyle, a majority of the 50 vendors concentrated on physical activity.
After all, being healthy requires some physicality, but, "You don't have to be a jock or an athlete to be fit," said James Sena, who along with his wife, Svetlana, owns a local gym.
"I'm from the generation where, as kids growing up, we played sports, all sports," Sena said. "Our kids are growing up on McDonald's, fast food and video games. We play video games and eat, play video games and eat. We're not heavy, we're obese. Put the video games down and go run, do something." To see more of The Pueblo Chieftain, or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www.chieftain.com. Copyright (c) 2009, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For reprints, email tmsreprints@permissionsgroup.com, call 800-374-7985 or 847-635-6550, send a fax to 847-635-6968, or write to The Permissions Group Inc., 1247 Milwaukee Ave., Suite 303, Glenview, IL 60025, USA.
Copyright (C) 2009, The Pueblo Chieftain, Colo.