This Walk for a Healthy and Fit Nation is a part of the Surgeon General’s national campaign to address the obesity epidemic and the reduction of chronic disease. It all starts with doctors prescribing more exercise to their patients. With prescription pads in hand, these doctors were “walking their talk” as Active Doctors encouraging Active Patients.
We look to our physicians to take care of us when we are sick; to fix whatever ails us. Unfortunately, the fastest fix is usually prescription medications. Ultimately, lifestyle and personal choices will determine how good we are going to feel and how healthy we will be. What prevents us from taking better care of ourselves? Is it because it takes more time, perseverance and/or more will power?
A recent study was conducted to determine how many fruit and vegetable servings the average American ate each day ( 5 to 7 servings is the recommendation). The results indicated a pitiful 1.5 servings and in order to get to this very low number, researchers had to include french fries and the ketchup slathered on them.
Granted, you have to make a real effort to eat 5-7 fruits and vegetables every day but it seems to me the effort is worth it. Our health is an investment; one that pays huge dividends or creates consequences that are very costly both physically and financially.
Enlisting the help of health care professionals to support the effort by prescribing exercise, healthy eating and self responsibility is a great start. Like anything involving a major paradigm shift, a campaign for less pills and more movement will take time. But, on November 12th on a crystal clear day, in a park in Boston, where so many great movements have begun, the Surgeon General signed a prescription for a Healthier America.
