Give the Gift that Keeps on Giving -- Health
The prevalence of obesity
has increased markedly in the last two decades in
the United States; currently two out of every three
Americans is either overweight or obese. Furthermore,
300,000 deaths each year are associated with obesity,
which puts it second on the list of preventable deaths,
behind smoking. Obesity and being overweight are associated
with heart disease, certain types of cancer, type
2 diabetes, stroke, arthritis, breathings problems
and psychological disorders such as depression.
Obesity in America has a direct
correlation to lack of proper aerobic exercise. According
to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
only about 23 percent of adults in the United States
report regular, vigorous physical activity that involves
large muscle groups in dynamic movement for 20 minutes
or longer three or more days per week. Only 15 percent
of adults report physical activity for five or more
days per week for 30 minutes or longer, and another
40 percent do not participate in any regular physical
activity. These numbers are far too low.
Physical activity is important
in preventing and treating weight problems and obesity
and is extremely helpful in maintaining weight loss,
especially when combined with healthy eating. Regular
exercise has proven to provide several benefits: it
helps reduce blood pressure in people who already
have hypertension, lowers the risk of developing non-insulin-dependent
(type 2) diabetes mellitus, reduces the risk of developing
colon cancer, helps people achieve and maintain a
healthy body weight, reduces feelings of depression
and anxiety, promotes psychological well-being and
reduces feelings of stress, helps build and maintain
healthy bones, muscles, and joints, reduces the risk
of having a second heart attack in people who have
already had one heart attack, lowers both total blood
cholesterol and triglycerides and increases high-density
lipoproteins (HDL or the "good" cholesterol)
and lowers the risk of developing high blood pressure.
The closer we look at the health
risks associated with a lack of physical activity,
the more convincing it is that Americans who are not
yet regularly physically active should become active.
It is recommended that Americans accumulate at least
30 minutes (adults) or 60 minutes (children) of moderate
physical activity most days of the week. 43 percent
of adolescents watch more than two hours of television
each day. One good way to get your recommended aerobic
activity is in-line skating. According to the Sporting
Goods Manufacturer’s Association, 19.2 million
people skated in 2003, making it one of the most popular
fitness activities in America.
“In-line skating is a
great way to get fit while having fun,” says
Nicholas Skally of Rollerblade. “As one of the
top aerobic activities, in-line skating burns approximately
350 calories in a 30-minute workout while producing
less than half the shock and impact to joints when
compared with other physical activities.”
One recommended fitness skate
is the Rollerblade Aero 9. The Aero 9 incorporates
a completely new closure system, the Total Fit System.
Rollerblade created this revolutionary closure system
that makes putting the skate on quick and effortless,
while fitting more precisely than possible with laces
or buckles. The system also enables an exact fit every
time, by adjusting to the contours of your foot. Pulling
on the TFS cord wraps the upper of the skate around
the contours of your foot.
