Sunday, December 11, 2005
Other States Following Huckabee's Lead
Governor Mike Huckabee, chairman of the National Governor's Association, recently launched his national "Healthy America" initiative. The intitiative is based upon the "Healthy Arkansas" initiative he launched last year to help the state begin battling the chronic health problems that take an enourmous human and financial toll.Huckabee assumed the roll of a true leader in this effort by doing for himself what he asks others to do. He completely changed his own lifestyle habits and lost more than 100 pounds. In doing so, he also reversed Type II diabetes and reached his physical peak at age 50. In 2005, Huckabee completed two 26.2 mile marathons.
Now other states are beginning to take notice of Arkansas' efforts to battle obesity, the most serious preventable disease affecting America today.
It is estimated that obesity-related medical costs suck more than $9.75 billion out of the U.S. economy every month! That's FAR more than the war on terror costs each month.
Today, the Louisville, Kentucky Courier-Journal reports that drastic measures are required to address Kentucky's health problems. In the article, Kentucky Governor Ernie Fletcher compliments Huckabee's programs.
Here's an excerpt:
[T]he state perhaps best known for its anti-obesity efforts is Arkansas, where Republican Gov. Mike Huckabee has turned his personal weight battle into a statewide crusade. Huckabee received national attention when he lost more than 100 pounds after being diagnosed with Type II diabetes in 2003, then wrote a book called "Quit Digging Your Grave with a Knife and Fork."
He now uses his bully pulpit to persuade residents to slim down. During his travels across the state and nation, and on the Internet, he tells his story — complete with practical details of his weight loss that others can adopt, such as cutting out fried foods and keeping apples around as snacks. In a state with a slightly higher obesity rate than Kentucky, Huckabee launched "Healthy Arkansas" last year.
The initiative has goals such as reducing the percentage of obese adults from the current 26 percent to 15 percent. Arkansas also requires schools to check for obesity in students and report it to parents; offers businesses an "employee fitness contest kit" in partnership with an insurer; trains diabetics to manage their disease; and gives out an award that recognizes restaurants that provide healthy food choices and environments.
The state has established an extensive Web site (www.arkansas.gov/ha/home.html) that includes tips, health statistics and tools such as a "portion placemat" showing residents how to measure their meals.
[Kentucky Gov. Ernie] Fletcher said he admires Huckabee's efforts and could envision borrowing ideas from Arkansas.
Read the rest by clicking HERE.
Congratulations, Governor. Your efforts are beginning to help people all over the country!
BSR
