How We're Tackling Obesity
Friday April 27, 2007
If you keep up with the news, it may feel like the weight problems in our country are impossible to conquer, either on an individual level or on a national level. But, I can tell by the many readers who respond to polls and leave comments that there are plenty of people out there who are taking care of themselves and living a healthy lifestyle. It's also heartening to hear more about the positive steps we're taking to make healthy lifestyles more of a reality for all of us, so I thought I'd point out some good news for a change.
The good news, according to IHRSA (International Health, Racquet & Sportsclub Association) is that health club memberships have increased by more than 6% since 2005 and, to make it easier for us to exercise, the fitness industry is involved in a number of health initiatives:
- Get Acitve America! is one program designed to make exercise more accessible. Each May, hundreds of health clubs open their doors, free of charge, to give people a chance to exercise and learn more about living a healthy lifestyle.
- The Workforce Health Improvement Program Act (WHIP) is federal legislation that would help encourage employers to offer fitness and wellness programs to their employees.
- The Personal Health Investment Today Bill is another way the health and fitness industry is trying to make exercise easier. This bill would allow some exercise programs and equipment to be paid for with pre-tax dollars.
My readers are definitely part of the solution and an inspiration! Keep up the great work, y'all.
Comments
I think that how healthy you are or want to be is an individual choice. It’s you who says “I can’t” or “I don’t have time”. AND it’s also you who orders the fries instead of that salad when both choices are offered to you. YOu can’t blame others for the state your in. I used to be one of those persons and now I’m going to the gym 5 days a week for 60 - 90 minutes, depending on my schedule, and I’m making healthy food choices. Don’t get me wrong…I’m certainly not perfect because I do treat myself occassionally BUT it’s certainly not as often as I used to. All of my efforts have made me loose 35 lbs and I feel GREAT!!
well it depends on the individual. me for restance am a busy girl who dont time so what should i do on it it seams being up and down is an excercise. when u eat and u sleep after the food u can be obest and taking in alot of water too
From what I have seen, and the number of people that I have talked to there are people who think miracles happen over night. If you want to stick to something you will, but if you think that one day at the gym, or one day on a healthy diet is going to do it you are mistaken. If it took you awhile to put the excess pounds on it is going to take you just as long to take it off. Believe me when I say this it really is a lifetime commitment, and it doesn’t happen over night. You could get up in the morning get one the scale and say great I have lost two pounds, and then at the end of the day get on again, and say oh no I gained it back and some. That isn’t it at all you have to do it the same time every day, and let your clothes be the judge. There is water, and the amount of other things that add to the pounds at night. Best to do the weighing in the morning sametime every day. Good luck, and don’t get discourged.
Obesity, especially gross obesity (more than 35 lbs overweight), is not quite as simple as personal choice as Linda says. Neither is the key to weight loss in pills, diet and exercise alone as Jo
Ann’s comment seems to indicate. However, Jo Ann is mostly correct. I would add, that if you are more than 35 lbs overweight and getting ready to lose, see your doctor. There are a lot of medical conditions that could be involved in your weight problem.
I would advise Angela that on a ver-r-ry basic level she is correct, getting up and down is exercise, but she needs to start pushing her definition if, in her heart of hearts, she truly wants to be smaller. I’m only guessing, but I suspect that Angela may be like me–over 200 lbs–and grown more sedentary as the lbs added up.
Baby steps are the key, then. If you work in an office, move supplies that you need farther from your desk and get up to get them. Even if you’re at home and getting up to get food, bring back a piece of fruit or a handful of chips or pretzels, then when these are gone you have to get up to get more. At least it gets you moving more.
Exercise is important not just to lose weight. I’ve been learning a lot in the last two years since I had triple heart bypass. Excersize is important to keep ALL your body functions working properly. So you need to move more, but you don’t have to expose yourself to the gym crowd. I’m sorry Paige but going to the gym when you are more than 200 lbs overweight is psychological torture! I know, I’ve been there several times at several different types of gyms.
Angela, there is both hope and help out there; just keep moving and see a doctor!
It is sad to me that we can’t seem to get the government behind drugs and crime like they have jumped on this band wagon. Oh and lets not forget that there are Senior Citizens living or trying to live on $400.00 a month. But yea, I guess over weight kids and adults are much more important. Or at least more glamorous to rally behind. Silly Silly people arent we.
Morbid Obesity
I think it’s great that people want to be healthy and you can find information on how to get healthy from just about anywhere. However it is a personal choice to get or stay healthy. Unlike other addictions I’ve never heard horror stories about people stealing food to support their food addictions. People can look disgusted at fat people all they want but are they going to be by that person’s bedside if they have a heart attack? Are they giving that person insulin shots? Why is it that people can’t mind their own business about peoples individual choices? Also, it seems as if everyone thinks that beauty is in the size you wear. The closer to a size 0 the prettier. Whatever happened to beauty is on the inside?
Beauty is more on the inside i agree, although i know how i feel phisically when i am overweight, –how can one feel pretty on the inside when they are huffing up the stairs after thier child and knowing they should be able to just go up ten steps with no problem. i have been big (210) and very small (126) it was not my size that made me feel beautiful it was my overall health. people are going to keep looking at the “fat” ones and the “skinny” ones and wish they had something that eather of them have. we are a people of silly thoughts, dreams, wishes and goals. i do not recommend getting out of your comfort zone in front of people, however, in your home getting up for more food just to be getting up is not going to get you what you want unless all you want is a full stomach. i had to get out of my comfort zone and just do my workouts, whether people are home or not, i had to spend more money on healthier food, cuz we all know them veggies are more expensive then that burger at micky ds. and you need more of them to satisfy you. and lets face it how many people (on averege) are going to have a double order of spinich salad that they bought, made and brought from home instead of the cheap, easy hot dripping tasty burger with 6 times the bad fats and no nutritional value to speak of? many many many, (multi billionaires remember?) bottom line until people go to thier doctor, set up thier plan and STICK TO IT FOR THE REST OF THIER LIVES no one is going anywhere. it sounjds bad, but just think would you rather feel good all the time with energy, sleep, and peace of mind or just for a few hours with a overfull stomach. wanting more fatness later. i am REALLY not trying to be harsh, this is my daily frusteration in life, being addicted to food. i just wanted to say its hard, but do it!