Obesity is common, serious and costly

In the United States, obesity is a growing serious and costly problem! The Center for Disease Control’s data indicates that 35.7% of U.S. adults are obese.  Approximately, 17% or 12.5 million children and adolescents ages 2-19 are obese; a rate that has tripled since 1980.  Obesity-related conditions include heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes and certain types of cancer, some of the leading causes of preventable death. The estimated annual medical cost of obesity in the U.S. was $147 billion in 2008 U.S. dollars; the medical costs for people who are obese were $1,429 higher than those of normal weight.

What will YOU DO??            

What are WE going to do to turn the tide and live a healthier life in 2014? January is Family Fit Lifestyle Month and EVERYONE is getting involved in making a commitment to a healthier family; even the President of the United States and the First Lady.  The President’s Council on Fitness, Sports & Nutrition is a site designed to help you learn more on how to help your family become fit!

Start by thinking about your family and what you do in your free time. Does your family spend too much time watching TV and not enough time taking walks? Does your family have a history of diabetes or heart disease?   The best role models to teach children about living healthy are the adults in their lives. Choosing nutritious foods and engaging in active indoor and outdoor activities is a great way for spending time with the whole family while promoting the importance of a healthier lifestyle. A family that gets fit together becomes a much stronger and healthier unit.

Here are a few family fit lifestyle tips: Go food shopping together and choose nutritious foods. Discuss the differences and the benefits of eating healthier.

• Make regular physical fitness activity a part of your family’s daily routine.
• Limit the time spent in front of the television.

A Plan with YOU in Mind!!

You need to design a family fit plan. Challenge yourselves as a family from children to seniors.  It is a great step for any of us who want to set themselves on the road to a healthier life through positive changes to physical activity and eating behaviors. Adults (that’s anyone aged 18 and older), your goals should be:

1. Physical activity. You need to be active 30 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, for 6 out of 8 weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (goal: 8,500).
2. Healthy eating. Each week, you’ll also focus on  a healthy eating goal.  There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be giving your body more of the good stuff it needs.

Kids and teens (that’s anyone between 6 and 17 years), your goals are:

1. Physical activity. You need to be active 60 minutes a day, at least 5 days a week, for 6 out of 8 weeks. As an alternative, you can count your daily activity steps using a pedometer (goal: 12,000).
2. Healthy eating. Each week, you’ll also focus on a healthy eating goal. There are eight to choose from, and each week you will add a new goal while continuing with your previous goals. By the end of the six weeks, you’ll be giving your body more of the good stuff it needs.
3. Commit to making healthier food choices—one goal at a time.
4. Set realistic goals to encourage fitness and healthy eating habits for a lifetime.
5. Track your progress with any one of the free personal activity logs located on http://www.fitness.gov/  which you can access online.
6. Have fun! Yes, you need to be active every day, but families can choose all kinds of activities to meet this goal—playing with the kids, gardening, walking, playing basketball, running, yoga, and more—all while fueling your body with nutritious foods.
7. Visit the First Lady, Michele Obama’s site http://www.letsmove.gov/ to get more ideas!

Are you going to become a healthier family this year??  Follow these suggestions, visit www.fitness.gov or http://www.letsmove.gov/ for suggestions and ideas, and….. Let’s Move Together for Healthier Families!!