This, according to stakeholders in the local health industry, is easier said than done for a generation where majority are not mindful of what they eat, and are not really keen on indulging in physical activities.
Bruce Cohen, president of PHI Pharmacy, said they are filling so many prescriptions for people in the island who are suffering from diabetes, hypertension and other prevalent diseases mostly caused by obesity.
Cohen said obesity is a major problem on island, and unless the people will really consider a lifestyle change for the better, this condition will continue in the next generations.
Both Dr. Gary Ramsey of the Commonwealth Health Center and dietician Dianne Esplin said they are encountering so many patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension related to obesity because of the usual lifestyle in the island.
Elly Stoilova, a fitness instructor at Gold’s Gym, said even if the people go to the gym to get exercise, they still need to do more like monitoring what they eat and going on a diet in addition to the regular exercise.
“When you say lifestyle change, it means lifestyle change. Take time to go out and walk, run or exercise, and do things that you haven’t been doing before,” Stoilova said.
The health and fitness experts said that the people here don’t just get enough exercise and physical activities because they are used to riding even when they need to get groceries from the store at the next block.
When it comes to parties, observers said that people are fond of loading their plates and not thinking of the calories they are taking in.
Inactive lifestyles
According to studies done at the news bureau of the University of Missouri, even with regular exercise, people with inactive lifestyles are more at risk for chronic diseases.
Researchers who conducted the study said that based on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “25 percent of Americans have inactive lifestyles, which means they take lesser than 5,000 steps a day, and 75 percent do not meet the weekly recommendations which is 150 minutes of moderate activity each week to maintain good health.”
The researchers found that physical inactivity is the main cause of chronic diseases like diabetes, obesity and fatty liver disease, and that those who have inactive lifestyles suffer an increased risk for type 2 diabetes and obesity.
John Thyfault, assistant professor in the departments of nutrition and exercise physiology and internal medicine, said that if people spend more time sitting, even with regular periods of exercise, they are still at greater risk for chronic diseases.
Scott Rector, assistant professor of nutrition and exercise physiology, recommends everybody to take at least 10,000 steps a day. One doesn’t have to take the 10,000 steps at once but maybe 500 or 1,000 steps every few hours is a good goal.
Taking these steps can include changes in your routine like taking the stairs instead of the elevator in going to work, walking to your co-worker’s office instead of sending emails or calling them on the phone, and getting out regularly for intervals during the day. Little steps count toward gaining good health.
