Fit Talk

In America we have more food than any other country, yet we have the poorest nutrition, highest rate of obesity and nutrition related diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and cancer. I believe these consequences result from Americans energy imbalance, empty calories they consume, and poor behavior and environment choices.

The explanation of energy balance can be put into a simple math equation, E.I. = E.O. (Energy Intake = Energy Output). There are two parts to this equation, the calories we take in through food and the calories we burn up through exercise. For an individual to maintain a healthy weight the calories consumed must be balanced with the calories used. But many Americans have abandoned this “law” of health and changed this equation into an inequality. Now this problem becomes energy intake is greater than energy output (E.I. > E.O.). I believe this energy imbalance is the main reason many Americans are obese.

The result of this adjustment to the equation is a nation of overweight and poorly nourished people. Dr. Tim Church, medical director of the Cooper Institute, a fitness research center in Dallas, lamented, “We have two epidemics in this country. One is obesity, the other is physical inactivity.”[1] Newsweek reports, “One quarter of all adults get no exercise at all, and half of all kids between the ages of 12 and 21 are not vigorously active on a regular basis.”[2] According to Time magazine, “In the past 30 years, the percentage of Americans who are overweight has ballooned from 48% to 65%. The percentage of children who are overweight has tripled, from 5% to 15%, and another 15% are considered borderline.”[3]

What must we do to be excluded from this majority? Exercise plays a vital role in establishing and maintaining a healthy body. Exercising has many benefits. Centers for Disease Control reports, “Regular physical activity substantially reduces the risk of dying of coronary heart disease, the nation’s leading cause of death, and decreases the risk for stroke, colon cancer, diabetes, and high blood pressure.” [4]

Wise food choices in moderation are also essential to healthy living. “Research shows that good nutrition can help to lower people’s risk for many chronic diseases. . . However, a large gap remains between recommended dietary patterns and what Americans actually eat. For example, in 2003, only about one-fourth of U.S. adults ate the recommended five or more servings of fruits and vegetables each day. In addition, in the last 30 years, calorie intake has increased for both men and women.”[5]

Discernment in food choices is necessary to avoid empty calories. “There is a right number of calories for you to eat each day. This number depends on your age, activity level, and whether you are trying to gain, maintain, or lose weight. You could use up the entire amount on a few high-calorie foods, but chances are, you won’t get the full range of vitamins and nutrients your body needs to be healthy. Choose the most nutritionally rich foods you can from each food group each day – those packed with vitamins, minerals, fiber, and other nutrients, but lower in calories.”[6]

Good eating habits and a healthy environment contribute to our well-being. Because of the smorgasbord of food choices we have, eating a healthy diet has become more difficult in our nation. Centers for Disease Control reports, “Grocery stores stock their shelves with a greater selection of products. Pre-packaged foods, fast food restaurants, and soft drinks are also more accessible. While such foods are fast and convenient they also tend to be high in fat, sugar, and calories. Choosing many foods from these areas may contribute to an excessive calorie intake.”[7] As we cultivate good eating habits we will make choices that include choosing stir fry over Mac n’ cheese, drinking water

rather than Mountain Dew, and taking a second helping of broccoli instead of dessert.

Because of our changing environment a healthy lifestyle has become more difficult in this country. Americans indulge in chocolate chip cookies while sitting on the couch watching their favorite reruns. They pull up to the drive through at McDonalds to order their Double Quarter Pounder with cheese. Centers for Disease Control reports, “Communities, homes, and workplaces can all influence people’s health decisions. Because of this influence, it is important to create environments in these locations that make it easier to engage in physical activity.”[8] It is wise to choose to clean the house,

rake the leaves, and use the stairs as the current national ad campaign advises.

To achieve a healthy life we must work hard and persevere throughout our lifetime.

Remember, we must not do this to glorify ourselves but whatever we do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.[9] We must work for the Lord because it is the Lord Christ we are serving. 9

Resources

[1]Miranda, Carolina and Park, Alice “Getting Fit; The Shape of a Nation,” Time,
June 6^th, 2005 p. 48.
[2]Kalb, Claudia and Springen, Karen “Pump Up the Family,” Newsweek,
April 25^th, 2005 p. 65.
[3]Wallis, Claudia “The Obesity Warriors,” Time, June 7^th, 2004 p. 80.
[4]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Activity for Everyone: The Importance of Physical Activity,” www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/physical/importance, October 28^th, 2005*
[5]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Physical Activity and Good Nutrition: Essential Elements to Prevent Chronic Diseases and Obesity-The Critical Role of Healthy Eating,” www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/publications/aag/dnpa.htm, November 28^th, 2005*
[6]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Nutrition for Everyone: Healthy Weight,” www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/nutrition/nutrition_for_everyone/healthy_weight,
November 17^th, 2005*
[7]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Overweight and Obesity: Contributing Factors-Calorie Consumption,” www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm, September 28^th, 2005*
[8]Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “Overweight and Obesity: Contributing Factors-Environment,” www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpa/obesity/contributing_factors.htm, September 28^th, 2005*
9The Bible, Colossians 3:17&23-24, New International Version, (Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. ©1973).
*Date last reviewed on the website