As a California transplant to Minnesota, I frequently hear from friends and relatives about how hard it must be to stay active in the winter. Implied, often, is the idea that we couldn't possibly value the outdoors as much as they do in a place where it hovers between 50 and 70 all year round.
Well, this month the national rankings on childhood obesity came out, and it's clear that weather has nothing to do with it. The worst states are those that typically rate the worst for education and child poverty levels as well: Mississippi, Alabama, Arkansas. The sunshine states out West fare well, but not as well as Minnesota. How can this be?
Obviously, getting outside and exercising is a good thing to prevent obesity, especially in kids. And I'm sure there are many families that do not enjoy winter sports as fully as ours does. But still. Minnesotans -- especially children -- would not rank this well if we were simply eating our vegetables and going to the gym for seven months of the year.
We get out. We savor sunshine, even when it's below freezing (we also get more of it than many other northern states. . .). We savor the lakes even when they are frozen. And -- most importantly -- we invest in public parks, public schools and public recreation facilities that are available to everyone, not just those who can purchase a membership at a club.
I'm not one of those people who think we'll solve childhood obesity by preaching. Most of us would get fat if the options for food (junk) and activity (TV) available to us are limited, as is usually the case for people living in poverty. Public investment that makes healthy lifestyle EASIER is critical.
