As one of the least healthy states in the country and with more than its share of chronic disease, South Carolina should do more to promote the health of its citizens, first lady Jenny Sanford said Wednesday.

Sanford met with the editorial board of The Greenville News to push the Healthy South Carolina Challenge, an initiative designed to encourage physical activity, healthful eating and smoking cessation to help reduce the rates of diabetes and other diseases.

Launched in May, the challenge pits counties against one another to improve overall health and wellness, rewarding winning residents with an open house at the Governor's Mansion this spring.

And while schools, corporations and families can do more, government should also, Sanford said.

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"There are things the government can do to incentivize better, little things, like even at the Statehouse, the vending machines are full of junk," she said. "If you're working late, you have to go somewhere else or end up eating Little Debbie cakes."

Another example where government can do more, she said, is by offering healthy foods at county parks.

"In Charleston County, we have water parks where the kids run around and have a blast, but you can't bring your own sandwich, and if you order lunch, all they have is fried baskets," she said. "I would argue that Charleston County should at least offer some healthy alternative."

Providing safe places to walk to encourage physical activity is another way government can help, she said.

Ever year, South Carolina spends more than $5 billion on health care, much of it to treat diseases, such as lung cancer, that can often be prevented, Sanford said.

Some of the state's poor health can be attributed to socioeconomic factors, such as the state's high poverty rate, and cultural factors, like a diet high in fried foods. But societal changes, like spending more time playing video games than going outdoors and super-size meals, have also played a role, she said.

While there is no silver bullet, Sanford said, the state can improve, and raising awareness is a start.

"The percentage of our labor force that is in a low-activity job has risen from just over 20 percent to well over 40 percent. Our schools in America are the No. 1 supplier of junk food to kids. And there's all this highly processed food," she said.