On Wednesday, the Paul Grist YMCA and In Shape Fitness was packed with vendors and people that wanted to learn more about a healthy living.

We are glad that so many people are concerned about their health, and are attending events that can enhance their quality of life.

Alabama is still a state in the nation that has some of the higher obesity rates.

According to stateofobesity.org, Alabama has the fifth highest adult obesity rate in the nation, and the sixth highest obesity rate for youth ages 10 to 17. Alabama’s adult obesity rate is currently 36.3 percent, up from 22.6 percent in 2000 and from 11.2 percent in 1990.

United Health Foundation’s America’s Health Rankings showed that Alabama had a 14.6 percent rate of diabetes diagnosis in 2017.

In the past three years, cardiovascular deaths increased 2 percent from 332.9 to 339.6 per 100,000 population in the state.

In the past five years, diabetes increased 24 percent from 11.8 to 14.6 percent of adults. 

The odds are against us as a state, there are those like those that attended the fitness day, that wanted to learn more about ways to be healthy.

We hope that these people will continue to lead others on the way to a long and healthy life.