On Oct. 7, join the walk for a healthier Iowa

By Sioux City Journal

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Seven and a half blocks. Twelve minutes. It's just that simple.

But it's also the first step toward helping Iowa reach its goal of becoming the healthiest state in the nation, and it will aid Sioux City in our attempt to become one of the state's first Blue Zone communities.

On Oct. 7, thousands of Iowans will take part in the Start Somewhere Walk. We want to see Sioux Cityans step up, take a step out and be among the leaders in the state. Organizers hope to see one out of every 12 Iowans taking part in the walk on Oct. 7; we challenge Sioux City to meet or exceed that goal locally.

We know we can do it. And here's how easy it is:

- The first step is to sign up. If you don't sign up, you won't be counted. All you have to do is visit www.iowahealthieststate.com to sign up. It's quick and easy to do.

- Once you've agreed to walk, you will receive a confirmation email. In that email, you will find a link to a website that will list walks near you. You can choose to participate with a large group, or you can simply step out of your office or home that day and walk 1 kilometer, or seven and a half blocks.

- If you don't want to visit another website, no problem. You can find a list of walks in your Sioux City Journal in the days leading up to Oct. 7.

About two-thirds of Iowans are obese, and our state is the 22nd most obese state in the nation. At this rate, according to the Centers for Disease Control, one in three Iowans will be considered obese in just a few years. This can't continue.

But before you scoff at this effort as some nanny-state government initiative, consider this: A healthier Iowa will create a healthier economy. The fact of the matter is that if our state is healthier we will have a more productive workforce. The studies are clear.

We will also see lower health care costs which in turn will attract new businesses and convince existing ones to stay where they area. Ask any business owner where he or she has seen the largest increases in expense and the answer will likely be health care.

We can take further advantage of this initiative here in Sioux City by mounting an aggressive campaign to be named one of the 10 Iowa Blue Zone communities. We are thrilled to learn that the city of Sioux City is partnering with Hy-Vee, Safeway and others to pursue this important designation. While Blue Zone communities don't receive additional funding, they will gain access to tools and potential funding sources to help create a community-based approach to living healthier lives.

Perhaps nowhere is this effort more important in Iowa than here. According to the Gallup-Healthways Well-Being Index, the 5th Congressional District (which includes Sioux City) is the least healthy in Iowa. If Iowa is to reach its goal, Sioux City must play a leading role.

It may seem like a daunting task, but it all starts with a first step. We urge you to sign up for the Oct. 7 walk, and put Sioux City on the path toward a healthier lifestyle. We've got to start somewhere.