Get Up and Get Moving
August 27, 2008 by Hope Wilbanks
Filed under Women's Health
How active are you? Losing weight to get healthier is important for many of us, but if you aren’t getting enough exercise, you could still be at risk for many health issues, including heart disease and diabetes.
You might be thinking to yourself that you don’t have enough hours in the day to fit in anything else. You can fit in exercise, though, no matter how busy your schedule is…
New Survey Finds Lack of Time is Main Culprit in
Americans’ Limited Level of Activity
America On the Move Launches Month-Long Campaign to Promote the Simplicity of Adding More Activity and Healthier Eating to Daily Life
DENVER, September 3, 2008, 2008 –Nearly forty (40) percent of Americans say a physician has recommended they lose weight while lack of time (50 percent) and lack of motivation (46 percent) are the two most common obstacles as to why Americans don’t participate in more daily activity. These findings are the result of a new survey commissioned by the America On the Move® Foundation, a national nonprofit dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities make positive changes to improve their health and quality of life.
The America On the Move survey polled 1084 people nationwide between the ages of 25 and 55, and also found that:
· More than half of the people surveyed (55 percent) reported having gained and retained weight in the last five years; of these
- Two thirds (66 percent) have gained 10 pounds or more
- Nearly one third (31 percent) have gained between 5-10 pounds
· More than one third (39 percent) of people polled reported worrying about the weight of their children, and nearly half (41 percent) believe that their children engage in too little activity each day.
Most of the respondents (59 percent) said they did not believe they received enough daily physical activity for good health. In fact, nearly half (44 percent) reported exercising just once a week or less. According to the U.S. Surgeon General, the average adult needs at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day to maintain health.
More Americans (88 percent) are moderately or very concerned about the recent downturn in the U.S. economy than such long-term problems as climate change (61 percent) and adult and childhood obesity (74 and 61 percent, respectively).
Meanwhile, the United States has experienced a dramatic increase in obesity over the past 20 years. Today, more than two thirds of U.S. adult population are either overweight or obese – costing our country as much as $150 billion every year, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. The bulk of that bill comes from health care costs for obesity-related diseases such as type 2 diabetes, coronary heart disease and hypertension.
The America On the Move survey was conducted as part of the organization’s third annual STEPtember campaign, a national month-long celebration highlighting how easy it is to be active and eat healthy. During the month of September, America On the Move encourages Americans to try its small change approach to healthier living. You can learn more about America On the Move and STEPtember at www.americaonthemove.org.
As the National Founding Sponsor of America On the Move, PepsiCo and its Smart Spot® products support STEPtember. Today more than 300 Smart Spot products are available, including Tropicana® juices, Aquafina® water, Gatorade® thirst quencher, Baked! Lay’s® snacks, Quaker® oats and Diet Pepsi®, among others. The national sponsor for STEPtember is LEAN CUISINE® and its full range of nutritional frozen prepared meals, including SPA CUISINE™ Classics, Café Classics and Comfort Classics; CASUAL EATING™ Pizzas, Panini and Flatbread Melts; ONE DISH FAVORITES™ and DINNERTIME SELECTS™ meals.
About America On the Move Foundation Inc.
America On the Move Foundation Inc. is a national nonprofit organization that helps individuals, families and communities make positive changes to improve Americans’ health and quality of life. With more than a million participants on- and offline, America On the Move supports a small-changes approach to healthy eating and active living habits. America On the Move’s science-based programs and outreach support Americans of all ages manage their weight effectively through energy balance. For more information, please visit www.americaonthemove.org.
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The key is to start slow and do the little things, they add up. All my friends know I walk whenever I can. I take the stairs. I will go to a neighborhood I have never been and walk and check it out; the next thing I know I have walked for 2 hours. Please note: it’s summer time so if you are doing outdoor activities protect you skin especially your hands. Have you heard of Norwegian Formula Age Shield hand Cream it shields skin from UVA rays. A must when you are out in the sun. There is a coupon here: http://www.neutrogena.com/ageshield
Part of the reason for my weight gain was a lack of physical activity, but now that I am back in the northeast and car-less again, I’ve dropped an amazing amount of weight!