Parks Help Us Defeat Obesity Epidemic

In a recent Newsy article, the writer says,  "A new study.... found drinking excessive amounts of coffee, roughly four cups per day, increases a person’s risk of dying."  The part about the coffee did not interest me much, but I did think it was funny the way the writer says it "increases a person's risk of dying."   Actually, we have a 100% chance of dying whether we drink coffee or not.  But, of course, we want to postpone the inevitable day as long as possible.  

With our desire to squeeze as many years as we can into our lifetimes, then tell me, why is obesity the number one health problem in the United States?  It is a first world problem that my friend, Amy, who is an ICU nurse at an Atlanta hospital, says worries her the most.  She sees patients regularly who are literally dying as a result of obesity.  It seems so simple - eat less, be more active.  But, it's really not simple when so much first world edible product is available to us in our hectic, busy lives where we spend so much of the day sitting in vehicles that move us to and from places.  

All of the above is one reason why I'm so supportive of local park systems.  They may not solve the question of what to eat, but they do give us reasons to move our bodies and engage with the outdoors.  How many of us took or are taking our kids to softball or baseball practice?  Or to swim?  Or to compete at the Wills Park Equestrian Center?  We know that parks are great for our kids, but they are likewise great for adults.   In Alpharetta parks alone, adults can play tennis, soccer, basketball, swim, ride horses, play frisbee disc golf, ride bikes.....

And don't under-estimate even the mere existence of a walking trail....

Last week I attended an open meeting sponsored by the city of Alpharetta's Recreation and Parks Department.  They were (and are) soliciting comments from the public about how to improve our parks here in Alpharetta.   At this meeting I learned that walking trails are the most used amenity in park systems in general.   Indeed, in a survey conducted locally, 80% of respondents said that they walk at our city of Alpharetta parks. 

This confirms what I know from personal observation.  During the first year of the Alpharetta Community Garden's existence, when I was managing it, I would often be at Wills Park for extended periods of time, at different times of the day and almost every day of the week.  I was really struck, particularly on Friday, Saturday and Sunday evenings, by how many families make use of the walking trails.  They were simply walking - moms, dads, kids, grandparents - in various and sundry combinations.  

The city of Alpharetta has taken great care of its multi-faceted park system and in so doing has vicariously provided one of the solutions to the obesity epidemic in the United States - giving people reasons to be active.