On physical inactivity

Arkansas: the Natural State. Or is it the Sedentary State? Fitness experts from the Mayo Clinic recommend that adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. However, 31 percent of residents in Arkansas do not meet this standard and spend the majority of their day doing nothing, while the national average is only 23.8 percent. A likely result of this staggering statistic is that 37.1 percent of Arkansans are obese, according to the United Health Foundation.

This is an issue that needs to be addressed in the most efficient way possible: by spreading awareness of the health benefits of regular physical activity.

The Department of Health and Human Services reports that living an active lifestyle has a high chance of lowering the risk of obesity, heart attacks, and type 2 diabetes. Nevertheless, many people are not aware of how much weekly physical activity is recommended for the average person, and adults often misconceive how much they actually exercise throughout the day. Education methods in the form of advertisements or public service announcements would set the foundations of a healthy lifestyle, especially for young children.

Since there are public health organizations that currently fund other campaigns, such as vaping prevention for teens (The Truth Initiative), advertising the importance of daily physical activity should be funded as well. By increasing awareness of the health benefits of physical activity, citizens of Arkansas will be more motivated to get active and live a healthier lifestyle, securing the health of many generations to follow.

BAILEY SCOGGINS

Hot Springs