Since First Lady Marsha Barbour doesn’t like the obesity word,we’ll use hers and say that Mississippians have been poor waistlinemanagers.

Mississippi was recently cited as the first state to top the 30percent threshold of citizens who are considered obese. Clearly,waistlines have been expanding rather than shrinking.

Citizens need to take this news to heart – which happens to beone of the body’s organs most in danger due to obesity – and beginto work toward healthier lifestyles. One way to do that is throughwalking, which Gov. Haley and Marsha Barbour are encouragingthrough the “Let’s Go Walkin’ Mississippi” campaign.

Locally, citizens have a new place to get their walking in atCity Park’s new walking trail. In addition to the trail itself,exercise stations are expected to installed in the near future.

Whether a part of the waistline management impaired or not, weall need to take a step toward more healthy living. So let’s gowalkin’.