September 8, 2003 Hello! School is back. Schedules
are getting busier. Who has time to exercise? Exercise is: "The Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, believing earlier studies failed to accurately
measure Americans' fitness because they focused on intense exercise,
has lumped everyday activities such as housework and gardening with
jogging and lifting weights. But even with playing withchildren
and raking the lawn on the list of moderate-intensity activities,
the 2001 phone survey released Thursday showed that 55 percent of
adults still didn't get the recommended minimum: 30 minutes a day,
at least four days a week...." This is a story that periodically makes the headlines: Americans are not getting enough exercise. Americans are not active enough. We have heard the reports.
We know the consequences of inactivity (obesity, diabetes, heart
problems, etc...), but who has time to exercise? I know it's important.
I know it is something I need to do; I know it's good for my health,
but I'm too busy to make it to the gym or go for a three mile run
in the morning. On the other hand, it's not like I'm sitting still
all day. I'm busy: always on the go. Doesn't that count for something?
"There is good news
for all Americans. Scientific evidence shows that physical activity
done at a moderate-intensity level can produce health benefits (USDHHS,
1996). If people have been sedentary, they can improve their health
and well-being with regular, moderate levels of activity each day." "Even moderate types
of exercise provide health benefits. For that reason, a state-based
survey, conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) for the first time includes a broader definition of physical
activity. The survey provides a more comprehensive picture of Americans‚
daily lifestyles and includes physical activity measures such as
gardening, vacuuming, and brisk walking to do errands, in addition
to more traditional forms of exercise....'It is important for all
of us to remember that sedentary lifestyles increase our risk of
obesity, heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, and other chronic
diseases. The burden of these diseases can be reduced with a minimum
of 30 minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity five or more
days a week,' said CDC Director Dr. Julie L. Gerberding." All these recommendations
are for adults. We have heard enough reports by now to know that
kids and teens need to be active as well. "There are currently
two widely accepted sets of developmentally appropriate recommendationsÜone
for adolescents, the other for elementary school-aged children.
They address how much and what kinds of physical activity young
people need. The International Consensus Conference on Physical
Activity Guidelines for Adolescents (Sallis et al., 1994) issued
the following recommendations: But who has time? Kids
and teens are busy, just as adults are: Busy schedules and busy
lives. Multi-tasking is already the norm. What else can be done?
You don't have time to join the track team, or take up swimming.
You barely have time to finish your homework (and the school year
has only just begun!). "...if you don't play
team sports, don't worry; there are plenty of ways to get aerobic
exercise on your own or with a few friends. Some awesome ways
to get aerobically fit include biking, running, aerobics, swimming,
dancing, in-line skating, cross-country skiing, hiking, and walking
quickly. In fact, types of exercise that you can do on your own
are easier to continue for years to come, so you can stay fit as
you get older." While it may seem like
it takes a lot of time to go out of your way to exercise, think
of little things you like to do anyway, and try to add bits of exercise
into your daily routine. While it may not count for everything,
even fidgeting helps.... Thursday, January 7, 1999: Questions of the Week: Please email me with any ideas or suggestions. I look forward to reading what you have to say. Cindy |
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