Tackling Obesity- "Memphis Healthy Habits"

Obesity rates in America are alarming for a number of reasons, and as a nation we need to do more to get behind and support initiatives that work to produce systemic change in our eating and exercise habits.  I was a little surprised to learn, during this group’s presentation, that often part of the problem in cities like Memphis is a lack of education.  Many underprivileged families don’t know about what exactly constitutes a healthy diet and aren’t aware of healthy food alternatives.  They also may be interested in working out, but don’t know where to start and potentially cannot afford gym memberships or suffer from a lack of time.  Because of this, many children in the city aren’t exposed to healthy living habits and are never given the opportunity to form them.  This lack of time, education, good diet, and resources contributes to an increased rate of obesity- making Memphis on of the fattest cities in the nation.  Obesity contributes to heart disease, sleep apnea, cancer, and diabetes to name a few.  

Clare, Michael, and Nicolson’s project aims at addressing these issues in the city, and is a website titled “Memphis Healthy Habits”.  It is seemingly aimed at the Memphis population as a whole, and includes several portions to educate visitors about healthy eating habits, why working out is important, and what resources are available in the city.  I love the project and completely recognize the value and mission behind it. With that being said, I have a few (mostly small) suggestions for how the site may be improved.  

Starting with the home page, I would suggest a more streamlined design that could be interactive, but overall is visually “cleaner” with less items on it.  Next, the recipes section is awesome, and has so much room for growth!  A search feature would be beneficial and recipes could better integrate tips on eating healthy on a limited budget, as well as the costs to make meals.  The “Blog” page of the website seems to be less of an inspirational or instructional blog as it is a compilation of other pages’ posts.  I see the potential for interactive posts, polls, infographics, and ideas that inspire audiences of all kinds to eat well and exercise often.  It could serve as more of a support system, or possible foster more community for those starting a weight loss journey.  Finally, my personal vision for the “Events” page includes an all-inclusive (or as close as possible) calendar with opportunities to be more active.  Overall, these suggestions while minor, may make a big difference in the functionality and design of the site.  

Congratulations on creating an innovative solution to a real problem in our city.