Public Service Announcement

This will likely shock you but according to a study published this week in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a journal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 79% of us do not meet the national physical activity guidelines recommending we get 2.5 hours per week of moderate aerobic activity and undertake at least twice a week muscle strengthening activity. The latest statistics are based on self-reported data from more than 450,000 respondents participating in the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, an annual phone survey of adults, 18 and older.

Among the findings:

• 21% of adults say they met both the aerobic and muscle-strengthening guidelines.

• About 52% say they are meeting the aerobic activity guideline.

• 29% say they are meeting the muscle-strengthening activity recommendation.

• The range of people meeting the overall guidelines varied by state. For instance, 27% of those in Colorado met them compared with 13% in Tennessee and West Virginia.

• Women, Hispanics, older adults and obese adults were all less likely to meet the exercise guidelines.


EDITORIAL

I may be fat, but I've finally I've come to understand just how damaging that is and I am working hard not to be. I promise not to preach, but if you can't take a walk then forego the lift and climb the stairs. Park at the back of the lot. Stand more, sit less. A bit of exercise costs nothing and does a world of good. I need you around.

Toad