Arkansas has the seventh highest adult obesity rate in the nation, and the 20th highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17. According to The State of Obesity 21.7% of Arkansas high school students are obese.

Now, you may read those numbers and think, weight isn’t everything. And you’re absolutely right. I’m not a doctor, a trainer or a nutritionist, but health and wellness are something I care a lot about. So putting the scale aside, should we still be concerned? Unfortunately, yes.

Other statistics are just as worrying. For example, according to a 2013 CDC report, 49.4% of adolescents in Arkansas report eating fruit less than one time daily and 43.2% say the same about vegetables.

What about movement? According to the 2018 America’s Health Rankings Report from the United Health Foundation, 32.5% of Arkansas adults “reported doing no physical activity or exercise other than their regular job in the past 30 days.”

These numbers concern me — and I hope they concern you, too.

As a parent, you have the potential to influence the type of lifestyle your child lives. You put food on their plates, tell them when to get off the couch and play and set an example in everything you do.

If that sounds overwhelming, don’t worry. This month, I had the chance to talk to parents and fitness gurus Kecia and Glenn McCracken who own and manage SparkFit, a gym in the heart of Little Rock. They shared practical advice on staying active, eating well and passing those healthy habits on to your kids.

So if the thought of lifting weights terrifies you and you don’t want to force feed your kids kale and broccoli, that’s OK. Being fit and healthy doesn’t have to look like you’re living straight out of a fitness blogger’s Instagram feed. (But if it does, that’s great too.)

As you read through this issue, I’d invite you to take one piece of advice and implement it as a lifestyle change in your own family. Take it one step at a time and slowly you’ll transform your lifestyle.

This isn’t about calorie counting, fast-fix diets, dropping weight or even how you look. Approach health and wellness with an attitude of caring for your body, and teach your kids to do the same.

I started this little note off with some pretty bleak statistics, so I’ll close with some happier research. According to Mayo Clinic, exercise boosts energy, improves your mood, combats diseases and improves sleep quality.

Get moving, Arkansas!



• Making Movement Matter
• Metro Little Rock Workout Classes for Kids
• Healthy & Delicious: Fresh Recipes from Stephanie Newcomb
• 3 Easy Ways for Parents to Stay Active