Compete to be healthier

Gazette Editorial Board

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Competition is something many Americans value - notably in sports, business and even playing video games.

But competing to be healthier? Not exactly on the front burner for most of us - even though our increasingly sedentary workplaces and unhealthy personal lifestyle choices over the past couple of decades have led to a well-documented epidemic of obesity and chronic disease problems.

Many local, state and national education efforts have struggled to get people to change their eating habits and get more regular exercise. Change has been slow to come.

So why not introduce more competition to get people's attention and speed up change? That's what the Blue Zones Project, a major component of Iowa's healthiest state initiative, is doing. We applaud the effort because it's in Iowans' best interests.

Communities were invited to submit applications to become one of the first Blue Zones in Iowa. Those chosen as initial demonstration sites will receive expert help toward making long-lasting environmental and local policy decisions that lead to better emotional, physical and social health for the community's residents.

The national Blue Zones Project grew out of an acclaimed book by Dan Buettner, who researched and verified places around the world where people live longer, healthier lives.

Iowa's healthiest state initiative was announced last summer by Gov. Terry Branstad. It's supported privately, with Hy-Vee and Wellmark the major sponsors, and is volunteer based, with huge public ambitions to move the dial on health and fitness within five years, at a time when it's never been more important.

Two-thirds of Iowans are overweight or obese. Cases of type 2 diabetes in children, tied to obesity and lack of exercise, have soared in the past decade. Significant improvement in our collective lifestyles could save billions in health care costs and lost worker productivity. And that affects everyone.

We're encouraged to see that 19 Eastern Iowa communities, including Cedar Rapids and Iowa City, were among the 54 applicants to become one of Iowa's initial Blue Zones sites. There's still time to help your community be selected by pledging your support, but the deadline is near. Finalists will be announced Feb. 10. You can register your pledge online at Bluezonesproject.com or text BZP to 772937.

More information about the initiative is available at www.iowahealthieststate.com. And if your community is an applicant, look for informational events, such as the forum set for 7 p.m. Thursday at The Hotel at Kirkwood Center in Cedar Rapids. Buettner and local health care leaders will be there to discuss health issues and the Blue Zones Project.

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