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Feb 20

Fitness or fatness? The choice is ours – The Augusta Chronicle

Fitness Comments Off on Fitness or fatness? The choice is ours – The Augusta Chronicle

Theres a new study out saying Augusta is one of the unhealthiest cities in America.

Wed tell you to take it with a grain of salt, but theyd probably ding us for that, too.

But the truth is, all these various rankings, regardless of their methodology and sincerity, are subjective and suspect.

The recent WalletHub.com survey ranks Augusta 141st out of 150 cities in terms of health using four criteria: health care, food, fitness and green space.

OK, well try to look at it objectively, though its hard to when your hometown is getting shamed.

You would think health care would be in Augustas favor. Weve got terrific hospitals and our vibrant health care community is the envy, and the destination, of the region.

As for our food, fitness and green space well, all right, we could stand some improvement there.

Augusta is cherished as a bit of Old South and that comes with a diet that is infamously fattening and unhealthy. A 2015 study, wrote Forbes magazine, reported that People who reported high adherence to a Southern style diet had a 56 percent increased risk of developing coronary heart disease.

It may be one reason that our 11-state region Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Virginia is known as the stroke belt.

And while outdoor sports are wildly popular here, the kind of green space that invites vigorous exercise often comes at a premium in cities such as ours.

In our defense, walking, biking and jogging trails are growing in the area, and the Augusta Canal and its towpath are a jewel were only now discovering the full value of.

One of our challenges one of Americas challenges is promoting the kind of healthy eating that leads to healthier, more active lifestyles. Augusta is home to more poverty than it should be, and poor households often have poor eating habits and availability. Indeed, on that last point, the closing of the Kroger on 15th Street means the drying up of food availability for the area.

Our obesity rate reportedly at about 35 percent was a big factor in WalletHubs ranking.

So, while we might take issue with being 141st in the country, theres definitely room for improvement in Augustas health.

We encourage folks who are concerned about their own health and lifestyle to take that first step toward doing something about it. Join one of the growing gyms in the area. The Family Y not only has great facilities, but also great programs and classes (as do most private fitness facilities). Take up bicycling or jogging or walking on the canal or at an area recreation center.

Then theres the Kroc Center at 1833 Broad St. a terrific community and fitness center made possible by the generosity of Ray and Joan Kroc, founders of McDonalds.

The riverwalk is a great place to walk or jog or even have a moving meeting. Downtown strolling is available every day, too.

Whatever you can do to get healthier, do it for yourself. Do it for your loved ones. Do it for your city. We cant take this lying down.

See the original post:
Fitness or fatness? The choice is ours - The Augusta Chronicle

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