Be Wild. Be Wonderful.
Be Healthy.

This is a full color version of the Be Wild. Be Wonderful. Be Healthy. logo used as a graphic element on the website.

Be Wild. Be Wonderful. Be Healthy. is a project promoting increased access to physical activity and improved access to healthy foods in Braxton, Clay, Calhoun, Monroe, Summers, Boone, Lincoln, and Logan counties. This project prioritizes local solutions to health-related challenges in WV communities.

About the Project

Be Healthy is a partnership between WVU Extension Service and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The project aims to build connections through identifying local resources, building connections, and learning about the viewpoint and suggested solutions of community members.

Inadequate levels of physical activity are associated with $117 billion in annual health care costs.
$ 0 Billion in Health Care Costs

Share Your Viewpoints

Opportunities to share community knowledge and information.

Identify Local Resources

Mapping of physical activity and healthy food assets serving local communities.

Build Connections

Connecting people to resources via changes in policy, systems, and environment.

Engage Project Partners

Approved program partners are eligible for funding and technical support.

More than one-fourth of West Virginia adults (28.5%) did not participate in leisure-time physical activity or exercise.
West Virginia Ranked 0 th Highest in the Nation
Percentage of adults in West Virginia who meet dietary recommendations for servings of fruit:
8.4%
Percentage of adults in West Virginia who meet dietary recommendations for servings of vegetables:
6.9%

Now Trending

Increasing access to physical activity and reducing food insecurity is one of the #BeHealthyWV project’s main goals. Take a look at our Summers County meetup to learn more about how we are working to improve the health of our residents!

A Look at Year One

By building partnerships with community leaders, the team worked to improve access to healthy food and created more opportunities for residents to be more physically active. The Be Healthy project team was pleased to collaborate with several community organizations and partners who made a positive impact on the lives of several West Virginia residents and families.

Thank you to all of our year one project partners working on improving access to healthy foods: McDowell County Commission on Aging, Inc. West Virginia Food & Farm Coalition, MountainHeart Community Services, Inc., McDowell County FACES, Reconnecting McDowell, Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank, Inc., Council Of The Southern Mountains, Risen Lord Catholic Church, Big Creek People In Action.INC., Clay-Braxton Parents As Teachers, and @Clay WV Housing Authority.

We also want to celebrate all of our community partners’ hard work in the first year of our collaboration: Big Creek People In Action.INC., The Coalfield Community Action Group, Council Of The Southern Mountains, @Grayhound Youth Sports, Reconnecting McDowell, Five Loaves & Two Fishes Food Bank, Inc., Clay, WV FRN, Lizemore Elementary School, H.E. White Elementary School, Clay County Business Development Authority – BDA, Clay County Health Department, WV.

Recent Blog Posts

Check out some of the latest developments, stories, and more from Be Wild. Be Wonderful. Be Healthy.

Meet the Be Healthy Team: Whitney King

For over a year now, Whitney King has served as the Nutrition Coordinator at Mountaineer Food Bank in Gassaway, WV. Check out our Q&A with Whitney below to learn more about her goals for the food bank and some of the exciting initiatives coming up!

Read More
#BeHealthyWV

Meet Our Team

Emily Murphy, PhD

Associate Professor

Christiaan Abildso, PhD, MPH

Physical Activity Specialist

Udday Datta

Program Coordinator

Samantha Moyers-Kinsella, PhD

Research Associate

Attributions and Additional Links

We truly appreciate the support of our community partners and valued contributors. The Be Healthy project was made possible with funding from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Please visit the following links to learn more about the CDC, Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity, and more:

Active People, Healthy Nation is a national initiative led by CDC to help 27 million Americans become more physically active by 2027. Increased physical activity can improve health, quality of life, and reduce healthcare costs. Here are a few useful Active People, Healthy Nation resources for reference: