Every day, papers are filled with news reports about the general lack of wellness among Americans.
These reports tell us that chronic illnesses — including obesity, diabetes and congestive heart failure — are all on the rise. Besides the serious health risks associated with them, these illnesses limit our productivity, increase the cost of our health care and curtail the quality of life for all of us.
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, nearly 64 percent of American adults ages 20 and older are overweight or obese. Additionally, 15 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 19, and 15 percent of children ages 6 to11, are overweight. As employers, we should be so horrified by this news that we take immediate action.
One major cause of the lack of wellness and accompanying increase in cardiovascular disease is our sedentary lifestyle. Work styles contribute to this unhealthy way of life through our advanced information systems, technology and even the Internet. Many people who used to lead fairly active lives at work or home now socialize, shop and conduct business by sitting at a computer all day long.
As employers, we can help. Companies around the country are encouraging their employees to join walking programs to improve their health. Walking offers many benefits; it can help cut or burn calories, improve overall health and reduce risk factors for heart disease.
Furthermore, walking requires no special equipment and doesn’t require a financial outlay to begin. It can be done in many different locations and at any time during the day. People of differing athletic capabilities and degrees of physical health can easily participate. And walking can be done at any age. The U.S. surgeon general reports that a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate physical activity, such as brisk walking, can produce short- and long-term health benefits. The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports recommends at least 30 minutes a day, five or more days a week, or 10,000 steps daily (about four to five miles), measured by a pedometer.
If you are interested in starting a walking program at your workplace, you’ll be pleased to know how easy it can be. Employers can encourage employees to participate with little upfront investment. A program can be part of an overall employee fitness or corporate wellness program.
Coordination can be provided by anyone with enthusiasm for walking. Walking can be done either at your work site or around your home. Many excellent resources are available, both locally and nationally, to help you begin.
Akron General Medical Center and the Ohio and Erie Canalway Coalition have started a program called Healthy Steps. While this program encourages walking along our region’s treasured Towpath, healthy steps can be taken anywhere. Participants are encouraged to walk the distance of a marathon by October and log their steps. Rewards are offered for those who meet their monthly goals. For more information and to register, visit www.akrongeneral.org/healthinformation/healthsteps.
Leadership Akron, a group of local leaders, has also started a program — GET FIT AKRON! This program offers resources for nutrition and exercise and is available at www.getfitakron.org.
Many other Internet-based resources are available and include complete instructions on setting up walking and other exercise programs.
- ShapeUp America! at http://www.shapeup.org/10000steps
- http://www.TheWalkingSite.com
- http://www.pbs.org/americaswalking
- http://www.fitness.gov
- http://www.presidentschallenge.org for information on walking from The President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports
Now there are no more excuses. Get out and walk your way to health.
