In our area there is a high prevalence of hypertension and heart disease. It's been proven that people who maintain active lifestyles live longer, healthier lives. With the million mile march I hope to provide people with encouragement to become active.

According to the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals one of the factors that directly affects obesity is activity level.
There are many underlying factors which can increase the likely hood of a person becoming obese. But, a majority of people can directly control it by matching their food intake to their activity level. 27% of adults in Louisiana are obese, not just a few pounds over, and most are from ages 18-24. Obesity and lack of physical activity has been clinically proven to increase the likelihood of heart disease in diabetics by as much as four times. Approximately 87% of diabetics in Louisiana are obese/overweight. Obesity has also been linked to uterine cancer in women.

Most CVD, cardiovascular disease, risk factors are modifiable including, but not limited to, tobacco use, high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, lack of regular physical activity, and overweight/obesity. The prevalence of Obesity in Louisiana was ranked 46th (26.9 % of population) in the nation. Regular physical activity is associated with significant health benefits and has been shown to decrease mortality and morbidity due to several diseases. The benefits of regular physical activity include, but are not limited to; reduction in the rates of heart disease, blood pressure, stroke, diabetes, osteoporosis, colon cancer, and mood disorders such as anxiety and depression.

Regular physical activity also helps maintain body weight, aids in the management of osteoarthritis, and reduces the risk of falls and fractures. Moderately intense physical activity such as a brisk walk can provide the desired results. A report on chronic diseases and causes of death explains that chronic diseases are often complicated by lifestyle and environment. The actual leading causes of death in the United States are tobacco use, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol use.

(Source 2006 Louisiana Health Report Card)