FORT SMITH (KFSM)-- Governor Asa Hutchinson addressed Arkansas's obesity problem Wednesday (October 14) and how he plans to combat the issue.
According to a State of Obesity survey, Arkansas has the highest rate of adult obesity.
Trainer Brandon Morrison said he was shocked when he moved to the state.
“It was kind of an awakening for me whenever I moved here to see the obesity epidemic running rampant,” Morrison said.
Morrison said he wants to help people get healthy and stay healthy.
“We try to educate people on healthy eating,” Morrison said. “It's more lifestyling than it is a fad diet. You know, because if you do fad diets most of the time you're going to lose the weight, but you're going to end up putting it right back on.”
Hutchinson revealed the 10-year "Healthy Active Arkansas Plan" to make the state a healthier place to live.
“People in Arkansas sometimes have bad habits through tradition or just not understanding what needs to be done or not having the ability to have an annual checkup, but they want to have a healthy lifestyle,”Hutchinson said. “We need to provide the means, encouragement, the leadership, so that they can have the quality of life that they each desire.”
He also said this plan could save taxpayers’ money.
“Whenever you look at the fact that 40 percent of healthcare costs on obesity-related illnesses are public dollars that are spent, that’s expensive,” Governor Hutchinson said.
Morrison said he agrees with the governor and hopes to see a change within the state's health standards in the coming years.
“It definitely needs to be taken a look at and corrected,” Morrison said. “I mean, it's going to help with healthcare costs if we help with this obesity epidemic.”
Hutchinson said this health plan differs from former Gov. Mike Hukabee's plan in that, it focuses on culturally and appropriately addressing health issues of Arkansas residents with different backgrounds.