Obseity in the U.S.-Follow Up

Professor Dayton blogged on August 20th about obesity in the U.S. Here’s a follow-up on the topic. Governing  published an article by Dylan Scott, In South Carolina, Doctors Write Parks Prescriptions to Combat Obesity. The article features the program, Prescription for Parks, which is a coordination between the Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department and the Health and Environmental Control Department.  A person’s doctor can “prescribe” the parks for the person, which allows the person to have free admission to the state’s parks. The article notes that “two-thirds of adults are obese or overweight, and … obesity-related health care costs have been projected to increase from $1.2 billion in 2009 to $5.3 billion by 2018…” 

You can access a number of other articles from the Governing website about state and local governments’ efforts to help their residents become more healthy. For example, Governing had  published a story in September of 2012 about playgrounds that include equipment specifically for elders

By the way, Governing has a section devoted to the issues of aging that governments are addressing. Governing Generations has some interesting stories, interactive maps and data. Topics range from transportation, to housing, to employment to Boomers (of course) and more.  Check it out….and then go for a walk!

Becky Morgan