A Healthy Utah - Youth Obesity and Utah's Recreation Resources

By: Eva Timothy, Professional Practice, Extension Assistant Professor

Arches National Park

For many, a healthy lifestyle- regular exercise and a nutritious diet- sounds a lot like undesirable work. However, according to the State of Childhood Obesity (2020), a project of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, the state of Utah has an obesity rate among children ages 10-17 of 9.8%. The national average indicates that 15.5% of youth ages 10-17 fall within the guideline for the classification of obesity (Obesity Rates for Youth Ages 10 to 17, n.d.). Utah outscores all other U.S. states when it comes to childhood obesity rates. So, what is it that sets us apart from other states? To gain a better understanding of the possible factors that could influence our youth obesity rates, this article will examine the outdoor recreation resources of Utah. 

  1. State and National Parks

A perusal of Utah’s Department of Natural Resources website shows 44 parks, outdoor attractions, or educational museums with yearly visitors totaling 4 million. Utah also provides 23 lakes and reservoirs, and 80,000 plus miles for those interested in ATV exploration (State Parks, 2021). McGinty (Land Ownership of Utah, n.d.) shows that 74.3% of the land within Utah is designated as national or state-owned. These various state and national parks, waterways, and ATV trails provide Utah residents with a plethora of resources for outdoor recreation. 

  1. Urban and Rural Trails in Communities

The Rails to Trails Conservancy (n.d.) shows 49 towns or cities with trails that accommodate either walking, running, or biking. They also show 140 transportation alternative routes being funded across the state from 1992 to 2018 (railstotrails.org, n.d.).   

  1. Fishing and Hunting Licenses Issued

With so many land and water attractions in Utah, it is no wonder that 183,358 fishing licenses and 50,551 hunting licenses were issued between March 2019 to February 2020 (Jolley, 2021). Our astounding numbers do not stop there. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Jolley (2021) reported that the Division of Wildlife Resources issued over 100,000 more licenses than the prior year. 

Although many other factors could influence youth obesity within Utah, we can see that the outdoor resources of the state are varied and prevalent. We here at USU Extension have noted our statewide efforts that support physical and emotional health. To further support couples and families in their health pursuits, faculty have created Hidden Gems guides that foster healthy minds, bodies, and relationships. So, fellow Utahns keep up the good work. To help you in that effort, visit https://extension.usu.edu/relationships/hiddengems/  to find a guide that fits your lifestyle. 

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