In American society, consumers want it bigger, better and faster. Super-sized portions at restaurants are the norm not the exception. By and large when it comes to diet and exercise, too many folks cave in to impatience and an underlying need for comfort, convenience and instant gratification.
Factor in demanding work schedules, longer commutes and hectic family lifestyles and it’s easier to understand why America is facing an obesity crisis. For example, it’s easier to grab a meal through the drive-thru than cook something after work. It’s easy to pop in a movie to preoccupy the kids. Modern culture and conveniences have made sedentary lifestyles a standard way of life.
Meanwhile, the mass media send conflicting messages to an overweight society. Hollywood puts buff actors on the big and small screen. Advertisers hire pencil-thin models to sell high-fat fast food, sugar-laden sodas and salty snacks. Given the choice between watching 24-hour television and surfing the Internet, too many Americans are turning in to couch potatoes.
In June, President Bush weighed in with a wake-up call to rouse Americans off the couch. His message: Regard exercise and good nutrition as basic to your life as sleeping and breathing. And we don’t have to pay big bucks for a fancy gym membership or buy expensive equipment to get into shape. It’s never too late to get some exercise and stay fit.
Take it from me. At age 65, I made myself a resolution to start running. At the start of the New Year in 1999, I began a morning work-out that includes sit-ups, push-ups and a two- to three-mile run. With a schedule that begins early and ends late on Capitol Hill, I get out of bed at five a.m. to make time for the exercise. Most days I'd rather not get out there, but the truth is I've come to depend on the routine and the good feeling from getting it done. Three and one-half years later, I continue to run every morning when I’m in Washington, D.C. And I also enjoy taking part in races in Iowa when I can.
The experts say 60 percent of adults get no exercise and one-third of U.S. children get less than one hour a week. This puts enormous pressures on health care spending in the U.S. and increases the likelihood of developing a chronic disease. Being overweight compounds our risk of life-threatening conditions, including diabetes, strokes, cancer and heart disease. Diabetes rates among those ages 30-39 has risen 70 percent. Staying physically fit and eating well is a matter of life and death. It’s estimated that 300,000 Americans die each year of an obesity-related disease. And one-third of cancer deaths could be prevented by improving diet and fitness.
President Bush has launched a two-year initiative to promote regular exercise, healthy eating, disease screening and prevention and to avoid alcohol consumption and use of tobacco and illegal drugs. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports will work to raise public awareness about the benefits of staying active and making healthier lifestyle choices.
We can add years to our life and life to our years by paying attention to the foods we eat and staying physically active. Believe me. Exercise is a simple, sure-fire way to boost our energy, clear our thinking and feel good about ourselves.
We’re never too young or too old to take more responsibility and better care of ourselves. The key is to skip the second helpings and make healthier choices second nature. Iowans looking for a way to live a long, healthy life well into retirement can tip the scales in their favor by shedding those extra pounds. And every little bit of exercise counts.
One way is to make a fitness pact with your spouse. And moms and dads can build stronger families by playing sports, biking, hiking and swimming together with their kids. If we lead by example, our children will pick up healthy habits and make better choices on their own when peer pressure comes into play during adolescence.
I’ve learned you don’t have to be an Olympic athlete to start a fitness program and stay physically fit. Start small, but stay consistent. The results are well worth the effort. For handy health and fitness information go to www.HealthierUS.gov.