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A Letter from Phil Kirk

We Couch Potatoes Need More Exercise

Various studies in recent years indicate that North Carolinians are not as physically fit as we should be. I plead guilty, although my boss last year, Mac Everett, has challenged me to change my eating, exercise and work habits.

The Centers for Disease Control claims that a whopping 86 percent of North Carolina’s adults are not sufficiently active, placing us 38th in the nation. North Carolina Prevention Partners gave us a D+ grade in physical activity.

Clearly this level of physical inactivity is cause for alarm, even if the statistics are exaggerated a little. Physical inactivity can lead to a multitude of health problems, early death and billions of dollars in avoidable medical expenses.

The North Carolina Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health and its Foundation have founded a physical activity initiative, “Be Active North Carolina.” This project will encourage policymakers, communities, organizations, families and individuals to support, promote and participate in physical activity. Why? To reduce the human and economic burden of diseases related to inactive lifestyles.

A lack of knowledge among the masses is obvious, and Be Active North Carolina will attempt to shape the way we think about physical fitness.

Some criticism is leveled at the apparent reduced emphasis on physical activities in public schools because of the need to be sure students master basic skills. While I see a considerable level of physical education in most of the schools I visit, we do not intend to increase time spent on physical education and recess until every child is at grade level on academic skills.

Children are in school fewer than six hours a day and 180 days, less than half of the year. That leaves 18 hours a day and 185 days a year for additional physical activity.

Of course, we agree that good nutritional eating habits and daily exercise helps students do better on their academic work. There is the challenge of utilizing our time in and out of school to the best advantage.

This new organization plans to focus on three levels — society, community and organizations. The effort is estimated to cost $10 million over a five-year period. Supporters say that equates to 26 cents per North Carolinian per year — quite a bargain when compared to the cost of $320 per citizen annually due to physical inactivity!

Among the strategies include increasing public awareness of the problem and solutions, developing and enforcing public policies and laws that regulate beneficial health behaviors, coordinating community coalition efforts to bring about change, and getting businesses, churches and schools to be active in this area.

Hopefully the group won’t go overboard in trying to secure new government rules to regulate human behavior from cradle to grave 24 hours a day. Education, yes! More laws, no!

The business community, while supportive of the goals of the campaign, must be alert to many of the well-meaning policy strategies this group will be advocating. Proposed infrastructure requirements, such as sidewalks, trails, new zoning and rezoning requirements, building code changes, signage and others, could cost local and state governments (the taxpayers) and businesses hundreds of millions of dollars. Please be alert especially to this part of the campaign.

There are also many burdensome planning and reporting requirements contained in the program’s plan, especially for schools.  The last thing our educators need is more paperwork, more plans to prepare and more reporting!

A private sector fund-raising campaign is underway. The goal is $5 million in contributions to match the same amount in government funding. Bob Greczyn, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, is chairing this effort and his company has pledged $1 million to this initiative. This is an effort worth supporting.


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