Capitalize on the Nation’s Obesity Crisis
and order a large soda, only to
a more stable platform for larger riders.
Snowshoeing and Nordic skiing don’t
entail the risk of falling or the high cost
of a lift ticket. Plus skiing and riding are
family sports, so it’s easy to take the
emphasis off competition and exercise,
and place it on laughs and good times.
vessel you’re barely able to grip with
both hands? At the same time
Americans are bulging at theirs seams,
corporate America seems to be feeding
their appetites — with supersized fries,
wider bus seats and sixpack chairlifts.
they are grim: More than half of
Americans are overweight. One third of
them (about 58 million) are obese. And
11 percent of those obese Americans
(about 4.7 million) are children under
age 17.
to inactivity. If we can inspire kids to
take up skiing or snowboarding, the
activities will become part of a more
active, healthier lifestyle.
grams at the Dome Project in New York
City, works with Burton’s Chill program
to expose inner-city kids to snowboard-
ing. With Burton’s support, Kopple is
though most of us lead a highly active
life, we know we are in the minority. And
as Americans get fatter, from a class-
action lawsuit against McDonalds to a
law professor suing an airline for charg-
ing extra to accommodate her girth, more
of them are asking society to change for them rather than taking it upon
themselves to remove the pounds.
into the snow once a week for six weeks.
the activities will become part of a more active, healthier lifestyle.
they’re not often confronted with their physical
condition,” she explains. “They realize they’re out
of shape when they get tired walking to the lifts
with their boards or when they can’t get up when
they fall.”
cardiovascular disease are directly linked to obesity, as a society, we cannot
morally justify sitting by and watching. Instead, why not offer a healthy alter-
native option?
learn how to ride, it “directly increases their self-
is, what’s bad for obesity is good for the winter industry. Snowsports can offer
a powerful social and adventurous way to combat those extra pounds.
healthier lifestyle.”
and Human Services recognizes that, proposing, “to work together to pro-
mote uses and benefits of the Nation’s public lands and water resources to
enhance the physical and psychological health and well being of the
American people.” It goes on, “This collaborative effort is being undertaken
to help promote healthy lifestyles through sound nutrition, physical activity,
and recreation in America’s great outdoors.”
Colorado, California, Nevada, and
Washington, have passport programs to
help get kids get involved with winter
sports. For example, WinterKids’
Passport program offers free Nordic ski-
ing, downhill skiing, and snowboarding
to all Maine children in grades 5-7.
far from profound, Karen Righthand, Director of Marketing for Atlas Snow-
Shoe Company, sees a deeper meaning.
WinterKids, an organization that helps
improve the health of kids in Maine,
describes the problem: “Maine has
some of the highest rates of childhood
obesity in the country, and the kids here
tend to be largely inactive and have
poor nutritional habits.”
mandate to use our collective resources to help obese people,” she said.
“And it’s not just to help eliminate obesity; it’s also the peace of mind that
being outside gives in these turbulent times.”
center, the industry needs to reach the segment of society that most needs
to get out in the snow and play.
out of shape… when
Marcus says, children tend to spent lots
of time indoors. “We’re trying to develop
a lifelong attitude of physical activity in
the winter when they would otherwise
be at McDonalds.”
activities can offer some major advantages over summer activities like run-
ning, swimming or biking.
they don’t require a great amount of strength or endurance to get started.