How do you get your physical activity every day? Is it by going to the gym, biking to work rather than driving, or running around the neighborhood? Or, do you not do any of the above? According to the CDC, only 1 in 4 US adults meet the recommended physical activity guidelines. This means that the majority of the population isn’t getting the minimum requirement of at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week. This could be due to the line of work someone is in where they don’t have enough time to exercise or even can’t afford a gym membership. The good news is, you don’t always need to spend money in order to get a work out in. There are lots of free alternatives like going to a park to workout or doing bodyweight exercises.
One thing to be aware of is that if someone is sedentary, then it is more likely that they’ll be overweight. This isn’t good for the health of the individual because it could lead to higher blood pressure, which increases the risk for a heart attack, as well as developing type 2 diabetes. However, there are ways to change a lifestyle and turn it around. Even something as simple as 15 minutes of exercise a day could increase your lifespan by three years. It might feel like it is extra work to exercise, but the benefits are huge.
It is also shocking to see that healthcare costs are close to $117 billion every year because of problems related to physical inactivity. If your BMI (Body Mass Index) is above 25 kg/m2 , then it is time to start exercising more and meeting the guidelines. It is also important to know that BMI measures your weight and divides it by your height squared to average out where you rank amongst the typical population. Additionally, being above 25 kg/m2 increases the chance for developing cardiovascular disease, which is a big contributor to the $117 billion for healthcare costs every year. It is time to lower your BMI. It is time to exercise more. It is time to make a change.
Health is Wealth 