If you looked at the films of the 30’s to the 60’s, you rarely see overweight
eople. Yes, there were some, but not like today. The statitics show that 2.4 million people are overweight. Obesity affects everyone., from medical costs that are climbing : to a lower quality of life.
How can we stop or control obesity.
1. Increase our physical activity. Simply walking :10,000 steps a day can lower your high blood pressure, high blood glucose levels and high blood cholesterols levels by 10%. Walking can help you burn your calories more efficently.
2. Decrease your caloric intake, decrease 500 calories a day for 7 days will burn 3500 calories which equals to one pound of fat.
3. Get plenty of sleep. lack of sleep can increase body weight.
Here are a few suggestions by the Center for Disease Control
What Can Be Done
Obesity is a complex problem that requires action at many levels,
for both adults as well as children.
The U.S. Government can
◊
◊Promote change
●First Lady Michelle Obama recently launched
the Let’ Move! program which seeks to eliminate
childhood obesity within a generation.
The campaign’ main points of action are
Empowering parents and caregivers.
•Providing healthy food in schools.
•Improving access to healthy, affordable
foods.
•Increasing physical activity.
See http://www.letsmove.gov/
◊
◊Recommend actions
●In May 2010, The Childhood Obesity Task
Force, appointed by President Obama, released
70 recommended actions to prevent and
control childhood obesity.
See http://www.letsmove.gov/obesitytaskforce.php
●A new CDC program, Communities Putting
Prevention to Work,* is designed to improve
nutrition and physical activity and prevent
and control obesity by changing policies and
environments. CDC recently provided $139
million to 50 states and $373 million to 30
communities and tribes to fund programs to
reverse the obesity epidemic.
States can
◊Provide supermarkets and farmers’ markets
with incentives to establish their businesses in
low-income areas and to offer healthy foods.
◊Expand programs that bring local fruits and vegetables
to schools, businesses, and communities.
◊Support hospital programs that encourage
breastfeeding.
◊Adopt policies that promote bicycling and public
transportation.
Communities can
◊Create and maintain safe neighborhoods for
physical activity and improve access to parks and
playgrounds.
◊
◊Advocate for quality physical education in
schools and childcare facilities.
◊Encourage breastfeeding through peer-to- peer
support programs.
◊Support programs that bring local fruits and vegetables
to schools, businesses, and communities.
All people can
◊Eat more fruits and vegetables and fewer
foods high in fat and sugar.
See http://www.mypyramid.gov/
◊Drink more water instead of sugary drinks.
◊Limit TV watching in kids to less than 2 hours
a day and don’t put one in their room at all.
◊Support breastfeeding.
◊Promote policies and programs at school, at
work, and in the community that make the
healthy choice the easy choice.
◊Try going for a 10-minute brisk walk, 3 times
a day, 5 days a week.
See http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/
guidelines/adults.html.
(from the Center For Disease Control )
