There are few issues facing us in the United States today that carry such widespread consequences as those of a sedentary lifestyle. It is not simply a health issue but also one with serious political, social and economic repercussions. A glance at our nation’s increasing rates of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease prove that these side effects of physical inactivity are killing us softly. Studies show that sedentary children are much more likely to become sedentary adults, making it essential to lay the foundation for lifelong fitness during childhood. In recent years, the proportion of overweight children has nearly tripled, and, unfortunately, 18.6 percent of Missouri’s adolescents are overweight, ranking well above the national average of 14 percent. Ironically, the best news is also the most discouraging – these side effects are all completely preventable health issues.
This point plainly justifies the immediate need for a strong fitness advocate. My plan to modify the fitness levels of Missouri’s children is to continue implementing BeneFIT, a program I especially designed for school children, in Missouri schools. I will also continue to work jointly with the Governor’s Council on Physical Fitness and Health to promote their programs and initiatives. Like myself this organization advocates turning kids on to lifetime fitness activities such as swimming, walking and jogging, not simply team sports. Kids need opportunities to show them that fitness can be fun, otherwise they will continue to reach for the video game or TV remote.
My education and certification makes me an expert in both health education and program planning, and I also strongly support the development of policies to enhance physical activity in both schools and communities. We must endorse higher standards for physical education in the school systems and push for curricula based on quality and quantity. I have talked to hundreds of children in the schools who all agree that fitness is important, but they need opportunities and role models to reinforce this fact for them. It is time to create a new culture in America, one that centers on healthy lifestyle choices made early in life.
As a local program leader and spokesperson for Shape-Up Missouri, the Governor’s initiative for Missourians to get fit, I helped my city become one of the 10 fittest cities in the state as well as attain the “City with the Best Effort.” As a volunteer for the Special Olympics I have watched children make dreams come true through physical activity. At charity runs I have cheered kindergarteners and grandparents alike across the finish line. My unique experiences advocating for fitness have truly shown me the great potential of this platform. There is a place in everyone’s lives for fitness, and this cannot be ignored.
Fitness is my healthy obsession, my platform and an issue that I want to spend the next year advocating as Miss Missouri. My fitness initiative can benefit greatly from the strength of this organization, and, likewise, this organization can find new publicity, relevancy and endless national marketing opportunities through promoting healthy, fit lifestyles. The Miss America Organization recognizes lifestyle and fitness as an important quality of the modern woman. Now is the time for this organization to help our children seize this same quality and be fit for their lives.