Indiana is a great place to live.
I bet about half of you just looked at that sentence again to make sure you read it correctly. You did. It's very common for people to criticize wherever it is they live. It's a fairly painless, passive from of self-deprication. Still, Indiana is better than you might realize.
Admittedly, Indiana isn't the most exciting state in which one could live. Frankly, it'd probably be easier to get a hyperactive wolverine into a "pet sweater" than to convince anyone that Indiana is particularly exotic. Certainly we can't match the mountains of Colorado or the beaches of Florida, nor can we top the glamour of California.
But Indiana really doesn't seem so bad when you consider some things the state does have. Sports are a strength with the state boasting successful NBA and NFL franchises, college programs traditionally considered among the nation's elite (Notre Dame football and IU basketball are probably the best known nationally, though certainly not the only ones), and of course, the most heavily attended one-day sporting event in the world: the Indianapolis 500.
Like many midwestern states, Indiana has a reputation for friendliness. In fact, somewhere along the line, the phrase "Hoosier hospitality" was coined to convey the congenial nature generally found here. The climate is versatile, making it possible to ski on both snow and water at different times of year. Finally, while Indiana may seem bland compared to some other locales, we should remember that millions (possibly even billions) of people around the world would jump at the chance to live here.
Tragically, a perceived dullness isn't the state's biggest problem. Results of the United Health Foundation's latest study show that Indiana is among the nation's leaders in both obesity and smoking. With the possible exception of heredity, these are the two most important factors determining susceptibility to heart disease and cancer.
With exactly 26 percent of Hoosiers classified as obese -- meaning their body mass index (BMI) is over 30 -- Indiana is the fourth most overweight state in the country. Only in West Virginia, Mississippi and Alabama is the average resident more likely to be obese. If you're like me (and statistically you probably are), you're not obese but are above your so-called "ideal weight." The formula used to calculate BMI is pretty complex, so if you're curious where you stand put "BMI calculator" in an online search engine and you'll have dozens of options.
Meanwhile, Indiana is one of the smokiest states as well. Since 1964, U.S. Surgeons General have been saying that smoking is harmful, but Hoosiers have displayed incredible willingness to shrug off such warnings. The good news is the percentage of smokers in Indiana is slowly dropping. While 32.8 percent lit up in 1990, last year's number was 26.1. The bad news is the rate of decline lags behind most other states.
Thankfully the study did have some silver lining. Indiana ranked better than most states in rates of children in poverty, those without health insurance and infectious disease. Proportionately, Indiana also had the sixth lowest rate of motor vehicle deaths in the nation.
Undeniably, Indiana has problems and in some ways is dulled by other states. However, all things considered, Indiana is a great place. Hopefully more Hoosiers will take steps to ensure they are around to enjoy it as long as possible.
Write to Jake at jymoore@bsu.edu
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