| Maggie's Tips
& Techniques
Stay Active - Stay Fit
Short days and cold weather are the perfect excuse to
laze around the house all winter, relaxing in front
of the television, waiting until spring breaks. Don't
let the couch suck you in! We can't let these short
days bring us down, infect us with the cold-weather
blues. Exercise and sweat brings happiness. Regular
physical activity reduces feelings of depression and
anxiety and promotes psychological well-being. (1)
So if you get out and ride your life will be a blissful
paradise.
Everyone benefits from physical activity, but our children
in particular need to get out and play more. Obese children
and adolescents are more likely to become obese adults
who are at an increased risk for numerous health problems.
Physical inactivity and poor diet together account
for at least 300,000 deaths in the U.S. each year. Only
tobacco use contributes to more preventable deaths.
(2)
Remember how you used to hop on your bike as a kid and
ride your bike everywhere: to the corner, to a friend's
house, around the block, just because it was fun and
felt good to move. What happened? Are video games that
addictive? Today there are noticeably fewer kids riding
bikes than even five years ago. According to the Center
for Disease Control participation in all types of physical
activity declines strikingly as age or grade in school
increases. About 14 percent of all young people report
no recent physical activity. (1)
- Physical activity helps build and maintain healthy
bones and muscles. (1)
- Physical activity helps control weight, build lean
muscles, and reduce fat. (1)
- Moderate amounts of daily physical activity are
recommended for people of all ages. (1)
1.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Physical
Activity and Health: A Report of the Surgeon General.
Atlanta, GA:U.S. Department of Health and Human Services,
1996.
2.McGinnis JM, Foege WH. Actual causes of death in the
United States. JAMA 270(18):2207-12, 1993.
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