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Long commutes, computer-dominated jobs, and communities built without sidewalks or bike trails promote sedentary lifestyles and set the stage for heart disease, diabetes, and obesity. Now, a national health initiative is focusing on ways to help build fitness back into society.
“The speed with which obesity has increased can be explained by changes in society that have increased calorie intake and reduced energy expenditure,” said Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the CDC. The Healthier US Initiative encourages all Americans to be physically active every day, eat a nutritious diet, get preventive screenings, and make healthy choices.
Initial efforts to help Americans get moving focus on the workplace.
“We know from our experience that modest and inexpensive changes, such as attractive stairwells with signs promoting their use, can lead to increased physical activity in everyday life,” Dr. Gerberding told Congress last spring. “We will soon learn whether similar improvements in nutrition can be achieved by changing and promoting the products sold in vending machines.”
Improving American health habits is a daunting goal--nearly four in 10 adults report getting no exercise at all.
“Widespread changes will not be achieved overnight,” the CDC director acknowledged. “However, if we can understand how to make changes in our own workplace to improve nutrition and physical activity, we are much more likely to be successful elsewhere.”
Other CDC strategies for everyday fitness include:
Increase the number of children who walk to school. A program in Marin County, California, has cut almost in half the number of students arriving alone in a car. A national initiative, “Walk to School Day,” takes place this year on October 8. Visit walktoschool-usa.org for more information and to organize an event in your area.
Try to take 10,000 steps a day. An inexpensive step-counter, or pedometer, tracks how much one walks, which people usually overestimate. Wearing a pedometer is a good reminder to seek out ways to counter a couch-potato environment. To order a pedometer, call 317-634-1100. All proceeds will go to support the Neighborhood Heart Watch.
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