Friday, January 27, 2012

Healthy Living


The YMCA is centered on three pillars: youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility. Our public health sticker was placed at the YMCA on a bulletin board labeled “For Healthy Living”, because it represents the programs the YMCA provides to the community in order to better their day to day life styles. Some programs include; daily exercise classes Livestrong programs, diabetes and prevention classes, and silver sneakers. We chose The Y because it provides people with a place to stay active and develop healthy habits. Regular physical exercise boots the immune system and reduces the risk of diabetes, obesity, heart disease, and other diseases. According to the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR), approximately 31.5% of cancer survivors had not participated in any leisure-time physical activity during the past 30 days. The highest proportion of cancer survivors reporting no leisure-time physical activity lived in the South (34.3%), followed by the Midwest (32.5%), Northeast (31.3%), and the West (25.5%). Exercise is very essential to keep the body fit and healthy. Regular physical activity has beneficial effects on most organ systems and it prevents a broad range of health problems and diseases. Lack of exercise is currently one of the greatest public health issues in the United State. Medical experts believe that exercise is one of the most important tools to improve public health and reduce the risk of major health problems, such as diabetes, heart disease and high blood pressure. Some even suggest that health policies should focus on increasing people’s activity rather than worrying about weight loss. Lack of physical activity will also impact the cost of medical care. There are studies that have shown that medical costs of inactive adults are substantially higher than those of active adults. Increasing activity levels not only makes people feel better, it improves the ability of the body cells to fight disease and stay younger and healthier. By investing a small amount of time in becoming more active, we can achieve better health and less chronic diseases. Spending at least 30 minutes in moderate activity, such as a brisk walk on a daily basis has remarkable benefits for older adults. Doctors and public health specialists are suggesting that kids should exercise at least 60 minutes every day.
By: Chiara, Katheryn, Nellie, and Laura (PHC4101)

3 comments:

  1. I think the YMCA was a great choice. I actually work as a YMCA counselor for youth and one of my duties it to promote health and daily excersice. The children are supposed to play outside for at least 30 which allows them to stay active.

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  3. Physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of disease and disability among Americans. This was a great choice to place the sticker, because fitness is one of the most important methods of prevention of disease and promotion of healthy life styles. Research shows that being physically fit can reduce one's risk for many diseases/conditions and improve one's overall quality of life. Public health stresses the importance of holistic health, as well; physical activity not only reduces risk for conditions, but it also improves mood, boosts energy, and promotes better sleep. These can all lead to a healthier individual. Plus, the Y is fun!

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