Wellness Walk: Student Senate hosts one kilometer walk to promote healthier lifestyles

Katherine Mayhew/Staff Writer

The student senate is hosting a one kilometer walk around the track on Friday, Oct. 7 at noon.

They would like as many CFHS students to participate as possible. Counselor Erin Gardner said that not all students will be able to participate, but hopefully as many as possible can.

The Healthiest State Initiative inspired this event.

The idea behind the initiative is to make Iowa the healthiest state in America by 2016.

In regards to this goal, school nurse Janet Williams said we have much work ahead, but it’s always one step at a time.

“We have a ways to go to be where we want, ” Williams said.

The governor is asking all Iowans to walk one kilometer on Oct. 7 as a symbolic first step toward this goal.

Williams said, “One kilometer isn’t very far, but any movement forward is a step in the right direction.”

Statistics show that 37 percent of Iowa adults are overweight, and another 28 percent are obese.

About one fifth of Iowa adults report having no leisure time for physical activity in the last month.

Only one fifth of the same group report eating fruit and vegetables at least five times a day.

This problem does not just exist in Iowa adults.

About 13 percent of Iowa high school students are overweight, and another 11 percent are obese.

Only 19 percent of these students eat their recommended amount of fruits and vegetables.

On top of this, nearly 25 percent of Iowa high school students watch three or more hours of television a day, and nearly a third of them drink at least one sugared pop a day.

Of all U.S. deaths, 25 percent were due to heart disease in the United States in 2007.

Many of these deaths could have been avoided had Americans exercised more and ate more balanced diets.