In The Next 6 Weeks You Could Be Fit And Healthy

Did you know that 31% of children age 2-19 in the United States of America are overweight or obese? 68% of adults in the United States are also overweight or obese.

Why does this matter? Obesity and being overweight increases your health risks for diabetes, heart disease, stroke and certain cancers while certainly increasing health care costs. Our modern lifestyle that emphasizes effortless driving and close parking is a main culprit along with our fast food convenience diet.

Obesity is defined as a body mass index (BMI) at or above the 95th percentile and overweight is at or above the 85th percentile. A person's BMI is calculated using their weight and height and provides a reasonable indicator of body fatness and weight categories that may lead to health problems. You can easily find BMI calculators online and you should know yours. The categories for body mass index are:

-Underweight a BMI less than 18.5

-Normal weight 18.5 to 24.9

-Overweight 25 to 29.9

-Obese 30 or greater.

Body mass index is not always the best indicator of health because it is only a ratio of your height and weight. This means that certain body types and high level athletes will have a skewed number. For instance someone who is 5'8", low body fat and very muscular will have a higher BMI and may even register in the "overweight" category when the person is not unhealthy. For most people, a BMI is still a good indicator of health risk.

What can you do about it? Walking briskly can reduce your risk for developing diabetes by 58%, reduce the risk of Cardiovascular diseases by 30%, reduce your resting blood pressure and heart rate, reduce the risk of Osteoporosis, reduce the risk of breast and pancreatic cancers, lower your overall bodyweight and your percent of body fat.

Walk to the store, walk to your friend's house, park at the other end of the parking lot, take the stairs and build in more physical activity to your daily routine and lifestyle.

Taking a brisk walk for just 30 minutes daily will significantly reduce your risk factors for obesity, diabetes, stroke, cancer, heart and vascular disease as well as osteoporosis. You can walk for 30 minutes once a day, 15 minutes twice a day or 10 minutes 3 times a day and achieve the same benefit. A brisk pace is fast enough that you should have to put some effort into having a conversation with a walking partner and you should build a slight sweat.

The best way to start this type of walking program is to just do it. Walking is for the purpose of walking, but it can also be used to get you somewhere. Walking to the store, a restaurant, school or work is a great way to build exercise into your daily routine.

Start with 10 minutes of brisk walking and add 5 minutes every couple of days until you reach your goal. As an alternative, start with 10 minutes and a couple of days later walk for an additional 10 minutes the same day. You could then increase each of these times to 15 minutes or add another 10 minute walk so you accumulate 30 minutes of brisk walking each day. The goal is to walk briskly for 30 minutes or more every day. If at any time you feel dizzy, lightheaded, out of breath, pain or other symptoms please stop and rest, and remember to consult your health professional or physician to determine the best program for you.

Discover how easy it is to be healthier. Now is a perfect time to start walking.

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