From going to a gym in order to be able to use gym equipment to a starting to eat a healthy diet, there are many ways that each and every one of us can work to improve our overall health. And in many cases, such improvements are incredibly necessary. The health of many people, children and adults alike, is far from what it should be here in the United States.
Unfortunately, obesity is one the rise, with the estimated one third of American adults being medically classified as such. In fact, up to seventy eight million adults were obese in the year of 2010, and in the eight years that have passed since, this number has only continued to grow. And the problem of obesity is not just one that is confined to the adult population – more than sixteen and a half children and adolescents were considered to be obese in that same year, a number that has only grown.
And if we continue our habits in the way that we have been, things don’t look so great for the future, either. In fact, levels of obesity – and morbid obesity – are only expected to keep rising here and all throughout this country (as well as in other places throughout the world). By the time that we reach the year of 2030, now just over ten years away, it’s expected for as much as half of the total adult population to be considered obese. And who knows where we will go from there.
There are many causes of obesity, as well as of morbid obesity – and this is the case for children and adults alike. For one, eating habits have become worse and worse as time has passed. Much of this can be attributed to the fact that various types of fast food are simply more accessible than they have ever been before. In fact, the data that has been gathered on this subject more than backs this up, showing that the number of fast food restaurants in this country alone has doubled since the 1970s, now nearly fifty years ago. And these fast foods are far from healthy, containing far too many saturated fats, sodium, and added sugars.
And physical activity is at an all time low among children and adults alike. It’s estimated that only around five percent of adults are exercising for at least thirty minutes a day, with less than one third getting the weekly recommended amount of exercise. For children, the problem is also considerable, as data has found that up to seven and a half hours of each and every day are spent in front of a screen, leaving little time for exercise and physical movement in their lives.
But exercise can change lives, and getting up and moving can make a huge difference of anyone, not just for those who are classified as overweight or as obese. Gym equipment, for instance, is a great way to get moving even when the weather is less than ideal. Gym equipment can be used at a gym, but the typical fitness warehouse will also sell gym equipment for your home. Sports stores tend to have any other workout accessories that you might need, and fitness stores that sell gym equipment as well are becoming more and more prevalent.
It can be difficult to find the motivation to begin to use said gym equipment, especially if you have never really been active before, but there are so many benefits to exercising on a regular basis, especially if you are doing so to lose weight. For one, regular exercise can actually help prevent you from getting Type 2 diabetes, a disease that has become more prevalent than every before among people in the United States. It can even help you to manage it or eradicate it if you already have been diagnosed with it (especially in combination with a healthy diet).
From gym equipment to eating right, there are many ways you can get on track and get healthy in the United States.
