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Gwinnettians
fast becoming
most slothful of all Georgians
By
Elliott Brack
editor and publisher
GwinnettForum.com
NOV. 20, 2001 - - We Gwinnettians are fast becoming known for
being lardbottoms, the most slothful, the Couch Potatoes of all
of Georgia.
A dispatch from the Associated Press listed the counties in Georgia
showing the percentage of people who "exercise regularly."
With Gwinnett the fourth largest county in the state, we registered
exercising only at the 20 per cent level, the lowest of any of the
major counties. Fulton County came in at 26 per cent; DeKalb scored
33 per cent; and Cobb County registered 32 per cent.
In fact only 26 of the 159 counties in Georgia--all much smaller
counties---said they exercised less than Gwinnett.
The information, from the Georgia Dept. of Human Resources and
the Heart Association of Georgia, said that "regularly active"
meant at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise five times a week,
or 20 minutes of vigorous exercise three times a week.
There appeared to be no pattern to the county percentages. However,
the two counties with the highest number of people exercising regularly
were Baker and Brooks Counties, in deep southwest Georgia, both
at 38 per cent. And the lowest? It was in Lumpkin County (Dahlonega),
where only 10 per cent of its residents considered exercise as regular.
Large and small counties were at the top and bottom of the county
rankings. Clarke County, the seat of the University of Georgia,
scored 35 per cent, close to the top, perhaps because of its many
youthful university students. Yet looking at the state overall,
a cursory glance would say that the one pattern was that there seemed
to be no pattern.
If Gwinnett has only 20 per cent actively exercising, that means
that 480,000 of us are inactive, involved with little exercise.
It may be that we sit more than doing anything else. No doubt, that
makes us less healthy than residents of other counties. Of course,
with only 38 per cent regularly exercising the high in Georgia,
that doesn't speak well for the entire state.
Perhaps one reason Gwinnett is so sedentary is because of our business
climate. Many people in Gwinnett are in high-tech businesses, sitting
at machines, manipulating little else but our fingers.
The Heart Association, therefore, has cause to be concerned about
Gwinnett, and really, the whole state of Georgia. You can feel assured
that I do my part in this lack of activity, though like most, I
keep vowing to do better. You probably make that same vow.
What's the best exercise? Many advocate simple and regular walking.
You need no fancy equipment, nor even a partner, but just the tenacity
to get out, walk and breathe in the fresh air. And with our moderate
climate in Georgia, it's not hard to do.
Some like bike riding, especially with indoor stationery bikes.
Others will suggest other exercise machines, such as treadmills.
Some suggest other exercise machines for various maladies.
But most of all, we in Gwinnett (and all of Georgia) need to get
into some regimen, and start exercising more, even if nothing more
than walking.
Or else Gwinnett could continue the reputation of not only being
the land of growth, but anchored with lots of Couch Potatoes.
FEEDBACK
Won't allow these times to stop her from traveling
Editor, the Forum:
I was in flight Friday, landing in Atlanta at 5:30 am on a "red-eye"
from San Francisco. Now, I'm not about to stop flying because I'll
not allow FEAR to rob me of my FAVORITE past time: travel! travel!
and MORE travel!...but I am "enlightened" enough to know
that it could've just as easily been MY plane that was in yesterday's
news!!!
Well, I have no "sermon-ette" today, but I am reminded
that all of us probably know someone we need to have a little talk
with or show a little more love to...maybe there's someone we've
been much less than honest with or we're hanging around people we've
long "outgrown". The "reality check" is just
a reminder that we all need to clear the "clutter" in
our hearts AND our minds!
Hmmmmm...I think I'll clear some "clutter" before I board
the plane for Hong Kong next month.
- - Stephanie M. Twitty, Decatur
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
All OK if mouth not taped shut
"I think I can live within any set of parameters, as long
as my mouth is not taped shut."
- - Bobby Knight, basketball coach, now at Texas
Tech, 2000.
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