DC Metro Area Leads The Battle Against Obesity

Most of us have heard at some point about the growing rate
of obesity in America and the risks associated with it.

However, few people really absorb the true impact obesity has
on our country and the daunting threat it presents to the
population.

Without beating the statistics to death, here are a few that
really hit home. Nearly one third of the country’s entire
population is considered obese. Obesity is defined as an
excess accumulation of body fat, leading to a body mass index
(BMI) of 30 or over.

According to the Center of Disease Control and Prevention,
the DC Metro area is slightly ahead of the game, reporting
that only 24.2% of its population is considered obese. Wow,
we’re actually ahead of the game in something other than
crime and traffic? You’ve got to be kidding me!

The health risks associated with obesity are nothing short
of horrifying. Amongst several others, obesity is a major
risk factor for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, certain
types of cancer and type II diabetes. Though awareness seems
to be increasing among the American public, it seems that
the true implications of the obesity epidemic remain somewhat
understated.

So let’s look at the facts. Obesity is the second leading
cause of preventable death in America, second only to smoking.
Obese individuals have an overall mortality rate that nearly
doubles that of normal weight individuals. Obesity reduces
life expectancy by up to 20 years, and it is estimated that
it causes 280,000 to 325,000 premature deaths each year.
Sadly, even being moderately overweight is associated with
a significant increase in the risk of premature death.

The point here is painfully obvious. Obesity is a HUGE
problem in our country. The question then becomes: What can
we do about it?

Any health professional will tell you that there are certain
guidelines you must follow to achieve a healthy body weight.

Let’s look at some of recommendations directly from the
surgeon general. Build physical activity into your regular
routine. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of moderate
physical activity almost every day, while children should get
about 60. In addition, food choices should follow the dietary
guidelines put out by the American Heart Assocation. This
includes consuming a diet that is rich in natural foods like
fruits and vegetables and minimizing the intake of higher
calorie foods that are packed with sugar or hydrogenated fats.

These guidelines seem so simple, so why are so many Americans
still struggling with their weight? While we may not have a
definitive answer, we can certainly identify one contributing
factor. It’s not that we are completely lazy as a society, it’s
actually quite the opposite. It’s that we are so inundated with
demands and responsibility, that our health sometimes takes the
back seat. Sometimes, people simply aren’t able to make their
health a priority!

We’d like to be part of the solution. Now that the kids are back
in school and you have a little more time freed up for yourself,
it’s time to focus on YOU! Through the end of September, we’re
offering 3 FREE Personal Training sessions when you sign up for
a package of 18 sessions or more.

Our personal trainers are the area’s best in the industry. They
will help you design an exercise and nutrition program that makes
sense for you and gets you on track to achieving a healthy body
weight. Summer is coming to an end, and hopefully, so are the
distractions, and most importantly, the excuses!

Call Mike and mention the Back to School special to take advantage
of the 3 FREE Personal Training sessions before the end of September.
You can reach Mike at 888-872-7961 ext. 1 or click here to learn
more about our personal training packages.

We have personal trainers in DC, Maryland, and Virginia.

It’s time to get busy!  As the great Vince Lombardi put it so masterfully, “The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.”