According to Michael Earls, co-author of the study conducted by Trust for America’s Health, “The solution to obesity is not that everyone should run a marathon. It’s the little things that begin to make a dent in the problem, like taking the stairs instead of the elevator or riding your bike to work”.

One of the trimmer states in the country is Oregon where only 21 percent of the people were found overweight last year, compared with Alabama where the figure is almost 28 percent. Oregonians also eat more healthy food. The state is known for farmers’ markets where fresh produce can be bought. According to Associated Press (AP), 10 percent of Portland (Oregon) residents pedal to the office on a system of bike paths that crisscross the city like arteries, just as they do in Boulder, Colorado, another bike-friendly metropolis, located in the leanest state in the nation. Only 16.4 percent of Coloradans are obese, according to the study.

Not everyone is convinced about the study’s findings. Epidemiologist Melvin Kohn has said that while the findings look impressive on paper, nearly 59 percent of adult Oregonians are classified as either “obese” or “overweight”. khalid hasan

Fact: No other city in the United States is working as hard to become a cycling-friendly city as Chicago. In 1990, it was voted second-best city for cyclists by Bicycling Magazine, but for avid cyclist Mayor Richard Daley, it's not good enough. "My goal is to make the city of Chicago the most bike-friendly city in the United States." Last year, the city installed its 8,000th bike rack, more than exist in any other U.S. city. Chicago aims to ensure that anywhere a cyclist goes, she would have a place to safely store a bicycle. By the end of the year, the city will add 25 miles to its 100 miles of bike lanes (Pittsburgh has fewer than 5 miles).

To read the report: Trust for America’s Health Report: http://healthyamericans.org/reports/obesity2005/

Source: Diabetes In Control.com.