Feature photo: Amanda Nielsen, Registered Nurse at City County Health District with Valley City High School seniors Kai Kringlie (seated) and Carly Goven (standing.)

VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – City-County Health District and Valley City Public Schools are partnering together to provide a health education opportunity to the Valley City High School seniors. High school students take their only health class in grade 9. The Personal Wellness Profile provides an opportunity for the seniors to receive a complete health risk assessment now that they are young adults. This program is offered for free to students. In addition, a presentation is provided to students to review healthy lifestyle choices including healthy eating, exercising regularly, wearing seat belts, etc. as well as reviewing the routine screenings that they should continue throughout their adult lives.

Specific measures of health are included in this survey which include height, weight and blood pressure. In addition, Valley City High School seniors can add-on a fasting cholesterol and blood glucose test in December. Children and adolescents should have their cholesterol checked at least once between ages 9 and 11 and again between ages 17 and 21. City-County Health District offers a test which includes total cholesterol, HDL, LDL, triglycerides, and blood sugar. The fee is $35.

In order to participate, consent forms from parents and/or students need to be completed by Friday, Dec. 2. Consent forms were emailed to each student. For more information on how to participate, contact City-County Health District at 845-8518.
“Students are invited to take advantage of this opportunity to start their adult lives aware of their health risks, so they can be as healthy as they can be,” states Andrea Winter, licensed registered dietitian at City-County Health District.