According to a recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Burlington, Vermont, is the healthiest city in America. Ninety-two percent of Burlington residents report that they are in good or great health. Outdoor activities are common, with lots of people biking and hiking, and neighborhood groups focused on improving parks, sidewalks, etc. With a culture focused on health, there are also more food options. Grass-fed beef is offered in finer restaurants, vegans have a variety of food choices, and the downtown supermarket is run by a co-op that sells healthy choices to low-income residents. Sounds like a nice place to live, huh? On the other hand, the CDC reports that Huntington, West Virginia, is the unhealthiest city in America. Nearly half the adults in Huntington's five-county metropolitan area are obese. They have high rates of heart disease, diabetes and a significant proportion of residents do not exercise. Culture and the economy have a lot to do with these statistics. Fast-food restaurants are the norm, and with a struggling economy that faces low-paying jobs and unemployment, many people feel like it's too expensive to buy healthy foods and worry about daily activity. It's amazing how the attitudes and focus on health differ as you go to different parts of the country. We are generally creatures of habit. If you don't live in a culture that focuses on making healthy food choices and exercising regularly, it's easy to see why it would be harder to start changing your lifestyle. Having support, from family, friends and the environment around you can make a huge difference. Want to see where your state stacks up? Click here to find the obesity and overweight statistics for where you live. What do you think? Personally, I'd love to live in a neighborhood where running and walking were the norm and not the exception. Do you live somewhere that's supportive of a healthy lifestyle? If not, how do you cope with that? |
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