Possible response to unfit report: Walk it off
by February 12, 2009 9:04 am 69 views
U.S. News & World Report reported in its Feb. 9 issue that the Fort Smith metro area is tied with Memphis for 10th place on its Least Fit Cities list.
Only 40.6% of people in the Fort Smith area exercise regularly, according to the report, and just 19.3% engage in “vigorous regular exercise.”
By contrast, 67.1% of residents of Boulder, Colo., the most fit city in the nation, get regular exercise and 43.4% exercise vigorously.
Greg Smith, a Fort Smith attorney and active volunteer in helping build area trails and walkways, said the report provides yet another reason cities in the Fort Smith region need to increase investments in facilities that encourage activity.
“I am sure some people will argue with criteria they (U.S. News & World Report) used, but whatever their standards, the article is a sad commentary on the health of our citizens and just plain embarrassing,” Smith said. “Although the health and well being of our residents should be our primary concern, this type of article will also make it very difficult to recruit good high-paying jobs in Fort Smith. Any CEO contemplating a move of his or her company is going to take this ranking into consideration.”
Smith said progress is being made on developing walking trails in Fort Smith. He said volunteers are working on the “Rail Trail” just north of the Sagely and Edwards office, the “River Trail,” just north of the Harry Kelley Park parking lot, and the “Mill Creek Trail,” along the city’s service road from the Evan’s Boys Club to Towson Avenue.