Health Fest 2010 Celebrates Public Health Week

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She gave us some dahlias and some Roman tomatoes to plant, explained LA county resident Renee, who did not want to give her last name. Renee is among hundreds of people taking advantage of todays Public Health Fair, Health Fest 2010.

Ive taken my high blood pressure and BMI, Renee continued. Im glad I did it because Im well informed, gotta drink more water, count my calories, do all that good stuff.

Dozens of public health services gathered at the Civic Center to spread awareness about issues like physical activity, dental care, and smoking. Around 25% of LA residents suffer from obesity, which is above the national average. The program hopes to reduce this statistic, through demonstrations of healthy cooking and free samples of fresh foods.

We need to have events like this because theyre encouraging people to think about things that they dont have time to think about all the time, said Jonathan Fielding, the director of public health for Los Angeles County. We are stimulating people to think differently and think outside the box. Theres a lot of positive energy and excitement.

The fair offered self defense demonstrations geared towards womens safety, nicotine gum and patches, and free H1N1 flu shots.

Jessica St. John directed a booth for the Los Angeles County Office of Womens Health. She had a steady stream of people having their blood pressure tested all day.

Everybody here at the public health fair is wanting to let people know that there are services available that they access to prevent diseases, St. John explained. The more information that they have, the more powerful they are in taking charge of their own health.

Los Angeles resident Denise Hawkins took the opportunity to learn more about healthy eating from the demonstrations at Health Fest.

They can make everyone aware of more healthy environments, eating living and taking care of yourself. Thats what we need to do nowadays, Hawkins said. Everything is getting so polluted and everythings so synthetic. We need to learn how to do this.

Fielding said he was excited about the large turnout at Health Fest.

Public health is everywhere. Its the air you breathe, the water you drink, the food you eat, its all around, he asserted. We need everyones help to make progress.

And while public health awareness may not change the air Angelenos breathe, Fielding hopes the fair can at least change the food people put in their mouths, more Roman tomatoes and less junk.