Healthy You:
Let’s Move!
by Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center
You’ve probably heard a thousand times by now that
you should eat fruits and vegetables every day and exercise
regularly. It’s a message that’s been delivered by healthcare
providers, educators, fitness gurus, scientists, and other
health experts for many years…with good reason.
Eating well and staying active helps prevent serious
diseases like cancer, heart disease, stroke,
osteoporosis, and diabetes.
A wellbalanced lifestyle also contributes to a
stable emotional and mental state, as well
as strengthens the immune system to fight
off the germs that cause illness. There is
an enormous amount of data to support
these claims and countless scientific
studies to prove them. Yet, despite this
knowledge, the number of Americans with
health problems resulting from poor diet
and lack of exercise is growing alarmingly
fast. Consider these statistics (United
States population):
•Less than half (42%) of children
ages 6 – 11 get the recommended amount
of exercise.
•A mere 14% of adults and less than 9% of teens eat
the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables
daily.
•33% of adults are considered overweight (body
mass index of 25.0 to 29.9), 34% are considered obese (body
mass index of 30.0 to 39.9), and 6% are considered extremely
obese (body mass index over 40.0). Adult obesity has more
than double in just 20 years.
•The rate of obesity in children and teens has more
than tripled since 1980.
•Only 35% of adults engage in regular physical
activity; 33% participate in no activity at all.
To put these statistics into perspective, one-third or roughly
33% of American adults equals over 77 million people.
So, it’s well documented that we have a growing
(no pun intended) problem in the United States and that
current health trends are straining our healthcare system and
economy. For example, last year alone the cost of diagnosing
and treating diabetes in the United States was over $218
billion. But there is good news…super good news, in fact.
The solution to this problem is simple and very achievable! To
reduce health risks and reverse the staggering statistics above,
medical experts recommend that we consume nutritious
food and be active. That’s it. No magic potions to drink, no
complicated formulas to follow, no outlandish expenses to
incur…just eat your veggies and move.
Now I realize that this is easier said than done - if being
healthy required no effort, everyone would do it. Carving out
time to exercise and plan well-balanced meals daily may seem
like a big task, especially considering that many people have
work, family, and community responsibilities that fill almost
every minute of their every day. But think about it. If a simple
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WINTER 2012
step like snacking on an apple instead of a candy bar or taking
the stairs instead of the elevator can lower your risk of lifethreatening diseases, give you more energy, lighten your
mood, help you fight the flu bug, set a good example for the
next generation,
and keep you from becoming a scary
statistic, isn’t it worth your
time? And what if making
these simple lifestyle changes
entered you for a chance to
win $1,000 cash…do I have
your attention now?
Cary Medical Center, Healthy
You, the AstraZeneca Healthcare
Foundation, Caribou Parks and
Recreation, Caribou Area
Chamber of Commerce, and
Loring Jobs Corps have joined
forces to help motivate you to be
healthy. Beginning January 2012,
Aroostook County residents are
invited to participate in the Let’s
Move Challenge – a simple contest
where eating the recommended daily intake of fruits and
vegetables and exercising regularly enters you into raffles
for prizes like $1,000 cash! In conjunction with Let’s Move,
a national wellness initiative launched by First Lady Michelle
Obama to reduce childhood obesity and promote healthier
living through nutrition and physical activity, Caribou