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Caldwell's on the right track
Too often, people want to talk about the things that Caldwell County isn't doing correctly. This is especially true during an election year when everyone has a better idea or way of doing something. After reading a report from North Carolina State University about obesity, it left me with the desire to shine a light on something that Caldwell County and its various communities absolutely are doing right. Released Tuesday, the report theorizes that too many parkgoers in the United States aren't getting enough exercise. In fact, more than half of parkgoers at the two urban parks studied actually engaged in little to no physical activity. The study focused on parks in Tampa, Fla., where 70 percent of parkgoers were observed engaging in “sedentary activities.” In Chicago, the second study site, the number was 51 percent. Thankfully, the study shows that children were much more active, but unfortunately that means adults were even more sedentary than the numbers show. So how does this relate to Caldwell County? Based on the study's findings, park offerings have an impact on how active its users are. In other words, the more picnic tables and benches there are, the more sedentary the users. On the other end of the spectrum, an abundance of trails and athletic fields leads to more fat-burning activity. This issue has been on my mind lately as in the last few months I've topped out at my highest weight (and undoubtedly body fat percentage) ever. The need to do something to improve my health has gone from a nagging little voice in the back of my head to a screaming electronic billboard across my midsection. The good news is the community in which we live has gone to, and continues to go to, great lengths to help folks like me beat the persistent problem of pudginess. It's hard not to find a place in this community for recreation, whether it be one of the dozens of walking trails, athletic fields or recreation centers. Non-park places like Wilson Creek, which encourage swimming, hiking and kayaking, as well as the many golf courses, skating rinks and neighborhood sidewalks also contribute to a healthier Caldwell. I need not mention the tremendous bicycling community here as another strong influence. Efforts are under way to create additional places for people to walk, run, play and ride at all ends of the county, and as more residents buy into the quality of life that Caldwell offers, the demand for recreation will continue to grow. Of all the places I've lived, this one seems to be the best in this area. Organizations like Caldwell Memorial Hospital, the Caldwell Health Department, Healthy Caldwellians, and so many others, also are doing their part to bring additional attention to the need for more physical and health activity. Events such as the Incredible Trail to Trail Challenge, which kicked off a few weeks ago, offer simple and fun ways for folks (like me) who can think of at least 100 activities they would rather do than exercise a little extra incentive. Now that the weather is warming up, it's time to get active and shed that winter weight. It's just too bad that simply going to the park is no longer enough to accomplish that goal. Edward Terry Editor eterry@newstopic.net
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