National Fitness: Are we getting mixed signals?

We hear it on the evening news, it's late-night material for Jay Leno, and the statistics are not encouraging. Our number one health concern is obesity.

Two thirds of the American public is overweight. One in every nine men weighs over 250 pounds. While one in six women tips the scale at 200 plus pounds.

To do battle with our bulge, the USDA released new dietary guidelines in January, recommending 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise. The message is clear " as a nation, we need to loose weight and exercise is the key. Go for a walk, get your kids on the soccer field, hop on a bike. Get off the couch and take a run through your local park.

If this is a national priority, why does the President's 2006 budget contain zero support for the primary funding source of public outdoor recreation projects?

Established in 1965, the Land and Water Conservation Fund provides grant money to state and local governments for the development of parks, playgrounds, and recreation fields. Since the LWCF began, the program has funded 40,000 sites located in 98 percent of the counties in the United States. Many Americans are unaware that their favorite park has received funding from the LWCF to create hiking trails, build softball and soccer fields, and develop playgrounds. Examples of LWCF Grant projects include: Gordon Field Development in Washington, North Bass Island Acquisition in Ohio, and Bennett's Creek Park in Virginia. These projects represent a range of state and regional acquisitions, including large open space, natural areas and small city neighborhood parks. The proposed 2006 cut amounts to approximately $90 million dollars, the entire appropriations budget for the LWCF.

Are mixed signals being sent to the American public " national fitness is important, but not important enough to fund the local park where you exercise? At a time when obesity is fast becoming a way of life, our country needs safe, healthy places for exercise and recreation, especially in crowded urban settings.

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Copyright 2005, eMaxHealth.com
Written by Louise Roach
Louise also writes for http://www.snowpackusa.com