Steps to a Healthy Weight
How’s that New Year’s resolution going?
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is exercising more and eating healthily; however, this is the time of the year we begin falling off our resolution wagon.
One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is exercising more and eating healthily; however, this is the time of the year we begin falling off our resolution wagon.
But, this is important. Let’s think again about achieving or maintaining a healthy weight. It’s your health we’re talking about. County health officials want you to find your way to better health. Let’s get back on that wagon.
“Obesity can lead to type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke and other chronic diseases,” said Eric McDonald, M.D., M.P.H, County deputy public health officer. “Regular exercise and healthy eating help people lose weight and lower their risk of disease.”
Think about this: In San Diego County, about 55 percent of adults and one third of children are overweight or obese. This means having a body mass index greater than 25 and 30, respectively. Which group are you in?
The good news is that obesity can be prevented. Make healthy food choices and get enough exercise. That’s the simple answer to better health, although it is not always easy.
It does not matter what type of physical activity you perform –sports, brisk walking, jogging, household chores, yard work, or work-related tasks. The goal is to be more physically active and try to get at least 30 minutes of activity every day.
Some examples of physical activity include:
- Taking a short walk around the block
- Raking leaves or mowing the lawn
- Playing actively with the kids
- Walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator
- Parking your car a little farther away from your destination and walk the extra distance
- Dancing to the radio or other music
“The point is not to make physical activity an unwelcome chore, but to make to make it fun and take advantage of every opportunity you have to be active,” McDonald said.
About two years ago, the County launched Live Well, San Diego!, a countywide initiative to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents.
Together with a wide-range of partners, including residents, hospitals, physicians, community clinics, businesses, school districts, and community and faith-based organizations, the County is working to build better health and address chronic diseases, which contribute to more than half of the deaths of San Diego County residents each year.
One of the goals is to create policy and systems changes that make it easy for people to make the healthy choice.
“Eating healthy means consuming more fruits and fresh vegetables, foods high in calcium and fiber and low in calories and fat,” added McDonald. “Achieving or maintaining a healthy weight is not a diet or a fad. It is a life style. Sometimes a few changes can make the difference.”
So let’s climb aboard the resolution wagon and make 2013 a year of living healthily.