Why we need the ADMA

We want to spotlight several articles that came out in recent days on the need for physical fitness and opportunities such as the Arkansas Diamond Mine Adventure (ADMA).

RTI International released a forecast on obesity in early May warning that 42 percent of Americans may be obese by 2030, which is up six percent from the number in 2010. The new forecast, USA Today reported in a front-page story May 8, "has health experts fearing a dramatic jump in health care costs if nothing is done to bring it under control."

At its Weight of the Nation meeting, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said the increase would mean 32 million MORE obese people in the U.S. in two decades. The nation's obesity rate remained around 15 percent from 1960 to 1980, but in the 80s and 90s the rate soared reaching 32 percent in 2000. It is interesting to note that ESPN, MTV and cable television took off in this country around 1980. The CDC now estimates that two thirds of adults and one third of children in the U.S.--fully 64 percent of all Americans--are overweight or obese.

In another USA Today article May 9 on strategies needed to fight obesity, Dan Glickman with the Institute of Medicine said, "If we don't address this comprehensively, it will basically take us down as a society." In the article, a professional "health economist" said the problem would get much worse without a major "public health intervention."

We would like to bypass that and suggest that the ADMA would be a better way to fight the problem. Our unique family recreation attraction will offer fun ways to get people of all ages more physically active. We are raising funds to build a ropes course, an obstacle course and a children's play area. We believe many people, like us, will want to participate in challenges such as these.

As an added bonus, we anticipate hiring a dozen young people to staff our operation. So our business dream will help fight obesity and help the economy by creating more jobs. You can't beat that with a TV remote control. So please go to our website and buy a T-shirt. You will feel better helping us help the country.