Date Locat~on Clrculatlon (DMA) Type (Frequency) Page Keyword
Tribune
Wednesday, September 09, 2009 SPRING VALLEY, MN 1,900 (1 53) Newspaper (W) 4 Center For Rural Affa~rs
Rural communities need to focus on preventative health Education alone isn't the answer as the center acknowledges that individuals don't make their decisions in a vacuum. It advocates public policies designed to 'S assist communities to build environments that encourage preventative lifestyles, such as eating right and exercising, to improve the health and quality of life of rural people. The national debate on health care "Communities that provide healthy reform has primarily focused on access to places for people to live and work will medical services and affordable health realize the social and economic benefits of insurance. However, there is another coma healthier, happier and more productive ponent to health care that can be corrected by individual and communitv initiatives P ~ P ~ ~ the ~ ~ ~ ~ The center supports federal funding, rather than sweeping federaireform. The Center for ,a private, but realizes it also needs local initiative. Mandating programs, such as the Local non-profit organization based in Lyons, Wellness Policy for schools that particiNeb.. has been studying the health care pate in the national school lunch program, crisis from a rural perspective during the last year. One of its main findings is a dis- won't help if schools facing declining enrollments and decreasing aid, can't turbing trend of greater physical inactivity, poorer eating habits and higher rates of afford to implement changes. And, offering grants to communities that also face obesity in rural America. these economic pressures and don't have The poorer health associated with staff to write proposals aren't going to these conditions can have a devastating help the communities that most need supimpact on not only individuals and famiport. lies, but also entire communities. In fact, Instead, the center favors federal funds the findings suggest that the health of for locally implemented initiatives individuals and their communities are focused at the community level through more intertwined than it may seem. "So while large numbers of unhealthy individ- not only local governments and schools, but also grocery stores, churches and uals and families lead to struggling comlibraries. munities, it is also true that unhealthy For example, tax credits for grocery communities encourage the negative stores based on the percentage of total health behaviors that are growing more common in rural areas;' states the center's sales in fresh fruits and vegetables is a starting point to supporting the healthy report. eating that contributes to weight control National reform is important because and disease prevention. Grocers may pass many rural residents don't have access to affordable medical services and insurance on the savings to customers with lower prices and come up with creative ways to due to the rural economic structure with market these healthy options so they can many self-employed people and small gain n greater share of the tax credit. businesses that don't provide medical Another initiative is community health insurance. Still, the center's research shows that 60 percent of premature deaths committees that would encourage communities to take steps toward healthier enviin the United States are caused by factors unrelated to medical care environmen- ronments. Federal funding and "circuit riders" would work with committees made tal conditions, social circumstances and up of local representatives that would behavioral choices.
Publisher
~
~
"
-
Q 2009 SPRING VALLEYTRIBUNE
All Rlghb Reserved
Account 18209C (28400) MN 327 For reprlnb or rights, please contact the publhsher
Page 1 of 2
Date: Location: Circulation (DMA): Type (Frequency): Page: Keyword:
Tribune
come up with local solutions. Another area that can be addressed is transportation, particularly the active forms of walking and biking. The condition of sidewalks and traffic patterns play a role in this. Research shows that communities that provide a safe infrastructure for walking and biking tend to be more physically active by about 70 minutes more per week than communities that don't. Indoor exercise facilities are also important, especially in Minnesota where concerns about weather may keep people on the couch. If private facilities are lacking, the health committees could work with schools to provide reliable access to physical activity facilities. One feature of rural communities that has great potential to encourage physical activity and healthy eating is strong social ties. Older rural residents report that having someone to exercise with helps them to stay physically active. Religious communities have already had success by organizing community gardens and encouraging nutritious meals at church meals. They can also promote physical activity. Rural communities in Isanti County in Minnesota undertook a project of organized physical activity options around the faith community. They created a senior walking program that combined physical
Wednesday, September 09,2009 SPRING VALLEY, MN 1,900 (153) Newspaper (W) 4 Center For Rural Affairs
activity, healthy eating and meditation. The fiith community helped organize it while the partnership also provided "walk the town" maps to help residents find safe routes through the area. Another place where people gather is the library, which can be a resource for group or community reading programs and other individual information on healthy eating and exercise. ~ s ~ t report h e states, rural people know that disease and disability are likely to be the end result of a lifestyle of poor eating and insufficient exercise. However, it is unreasonable to expect that people will change their behavior while "immersed in an environment that begs them to stay the same." The contentious health care reform debate is focused on paying for or treating the consequences of poor health. This is more of apreventative approach, advocating public policies that enable communities to provide residents with a safe, useful structure to "nudge," not force, people into lifestyle changes that can put them back on the track to longevity and well being.
Ifyou would like more details on this report or the entire series of reports on health care by the Affairs, check out
Page 2 of 2
Q 2009 SPRING VALLEY TRIBUNE All Rlghts Reserved
Account: 18209C (28400) MN~327
For reprints or rights. please contact the publisher