Living Large

It has become more and more evident in recent years that our nation is falling prey to the Obesity epidemic. The most discouraging area we are seeing growth is with children. Every day, nearly one-third of U.S. children aged 4 to 19 eat fast food, which likely packs on about six extra pounds per child per year and increases the risk of obesity.

The numbers, though alarming, are not surprising since billions of dollars are spent each year on fast-food advertising directed at kids. The findings in recent studies suggest that fast-food consumption has increased fivefold among children since 1970.

Children who eat fast food on a regular basis consumed more fats, sugars and carbohydrates and fewer fruits and non-starchy vegetables than those who don't eat fast food. They also consume about 187 more daily calories, which can add up to about six pounds more per year.

If you are a parent, consider eating more meals at home, packing a turkey or peanut butter sandwich when traveling in the car and making sure you get exercise as a family. The third contributing factor to the obesity epidemic is too much stress on the family. Taking a walk in the evenings will not only burn calories but it will give each of you a chance to talk, learn about each other's day and relieve extra stress in the process.

Forty years ago, families cooked dinner and sat and ate it together on a regular basis. Too often now, dinner is grabbed from a fast food restaurant and eaten on the go. It's important to set a good example for your children by being active yourself and planning family activities such as biking, hiking, running, walking, swimming or skating. There's no alternative to a parent cooking a dinner and eating it with his or her children, and taking them outside to play. The answer to the obesity problem is very simple. We need to return to more traditional ways of eating, exercising and being with our families.

Benefits of Staying Healthy

Recently, I fractured a rib snowboarding, and now that I’m in healing mode I have more time to reflect on being healthy.  You know what they say about not being able to appreciate something until it’s gone – I can definitely vouch for that.  Each movement provides me with a constant reminder that my body is not 100 percent.

What does being healthy mean?  In our fast-paced society, it’s often portrayed as just being slim, toned, or even just skinny.  Medilexicon's medical dictionary defines it as "Well; in a state of normal functioning; free from disease."

So, truthfully, the definition of healthy is not an “image”, but a state of being, a way of life.  Research shows that exercising regularly and eating a healthier diet containing whole natural foods, and getting adequate, regular sleep pays off -- even if you never lose weight.

Increasing your activity level alone makes you feel better immediately.  Government guidelines now recommend 30 minutes of activity most days of the week for most people. So you can take a brisk walk or mow the lawn and reap benefits, among them:

Increasing your activity level reduces your risk of heart disease by improving blood circulation throughout the body, according to the American Heart Association. Also, you'll be better able to control high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

Exercise may reduce your risk of developing adult-onset diabetes, which has hit nearly epidemic levels in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Researchers at East Carolina University in Greenville, N.C., found that an hour a day of moderate-intensity exercise for men raised their sensitivity to insulin, which may reduce their risk of developing the disease.

By now you probably realize that health is complex – if one part of the body system suffers, you’re likely to see consequences in other areas of your life. Though diet and exercise are critical components of healthy lifestyles, it’s also important to remember that sleep is inherently linked with how we eat (and how much), how we exercise (and whether or not we lose weight), and how we function on a daily basis.

So, in the spirit of Living Clean, I urge you to take action in your own life.  Begin now, before it's too late, before too many years have passed you by, to make these three areas a bigger focus in your life.  Set regular sleep/wake up times, go for a walk four or five times a week, and mix in a salad at lunch instead of the fries or chips.  Simple steps that can go a long way toward keeping healthy, mobile, and happy.