Walk to make Iowa the healthiest state

To the editor:

The Surgeon General recently published a call to action to increase walking and walkable communities in America. This comes in response to what many already know; America is in a poor state of health. Currently, 1 out of 2 people in the United States is suffering from some type of chronic disease condition, such as heart disease, diabetes or obesity.

The good news is that many chronic diseases can be delayed, prevented, or managed through healthy behaviors including being physically active. In addition to preventing disease, physical activity helps people suffering from chronic disease manage their condition and reduce the risk of premature death.

Walking is the most common form of physical activity in our country and is a simple way for people to increase their physical activity levels. The best thing about walking, it's easy, accessible and affordable, as it doesn't require special skills, facilities or expensive equipment. Here in Iowa, we are blessed with hundreds of miles of trails and sidewalks that support safe walking.

On Wednesday, the Healthiest State Walk will be held to encourage Iowans to take control of their own health by joining your colleagues, neighbors and friends for a 1K walk. We all have to start somewhere, so why not start by walking on Wednesday? To see where you can find a walk in your community, visit http://www.iowahealthieststate.com/healthiest-state-walk.

You can be a part of the movement to make Iowa the healthiest state in the nation!

Jami Haberl

Executive Director

Iowa Healthiest State Initiative

Des Moines