Living a Healthy Lifestyle
It is feared that the current generation will be the first to be less, rather than more healthy than its parents' generation, thanks to the growing crisis of obesity and inactivity. A number of government websites exist specifically designed to promote a healthier lifestyle, most notably the White House's 'Let's Move' campaign. Let's Move is specifically devoted to preventing childhood obesity and provides a variety of resources for readers, including statistics on childhood obesity (it notes that in African-American and Hispanic communities as many as 40% of all children are overweight or obese); suggestions on how to pursue a healthier diet via links to other government websites, and suggestions for incorporating exercise into children's lives. There are also special offers like a contest for 'kid chefs' to submit healthy recipes.
What exactly constitutes a healthy diet is, of course, controversial. The USDA provides specific dietary guidelines for Americans to improve their diets, including keeping within one's average calorie needs; the need to reduce sugary, sweetened beverages; and an emphasis on whole grains and high fiber foods. The USDA advice tends to be rather technical in nature, linking guidelines to various epidemiological factors influencing the rise in obesity. The report on dietary guidelines is composed of several chapters and includes comparisons of popular diets, including the DASH diet and the Mediterranean diet. More practical advice is given by websites such as 'Choose my Plate' which provides advice about eating healthfully on a budget. The suggestions on how to 'plan,' 'purchase' and 'prepare' foods while...
This blog is a photographic essay of a schoolteacher who ate the school lunches served at her urban school district for an entire year. (The lunches would have been eligible for the federally-subsidized school lunch program and are eaten by the majority of the students at the school). These lunches were often composed of highly processed foods such as square pizza, French fries, and chocolate milk. Suggestions for healthier lunches are offered as well.
Knowing 'where you stand' in terms of obesity is important and not always immediately obvious, given that as America grows heavier, a higher body weight has become more normalized. BMI (body mass index) calculates the relatively 'normal' weight for someone of your gender, age, height, and body composition, although the measure is somewhat controversial, given it is alleged that very muscular athletes may be measured as 'overweight' by its standards. A popular BMI calculator available online is offered by the NIH (National Institute of Health). Another useful tool is 'Calories Per Hour' which allows for a rough calculation of calories per hour of various activities, both fitness-related and lifestyle-related (like gardening). This calculator can be adjusted based upon factors such as age, weight, or gender which affect metabolism.
For objective statistics on the…
