What Can We Do?

Like this website has been saying, Obesity is a very serious problem and can lead to other forms of illnesses, and is prevalent among Hispanics and Latinos. The most notable way to over come this problem is to educate yourself and others about the problem; knowing is half the battle. Physical activity and a steady diet are other important factors to take into consideration. While you may be able to live on a healthy diet, physical activity is very important to help keep good blood flow to all areas of the body as well as keeping the heart in shape.

Physical Activity:

Regular doses of aerobic exercise will promote cardiovascular fitness. Jogging, walking, swimming, biking, dancing, and exercise classes are beneficial. Recommended levels of exercise from the American Heart Association are 30-60 minutes of activity 3-7 times per week. Public, non-profit, and business sectors need to direct resources and policies toward increasing physical activity among adults and children. An example would be increased access to parks and recreational facilities, organized physical activity programs in communities and in schools: safe neighborhoods and urban and transportation planning to decrease time spent in cars and increased opportunities for walking and bicycling. Before one engages in any type of physical activity, one most consult a physician or a doctor to better educate themselves on where to start with a work out program, as well as what intensity levels to work at.

Lifestyle fitness is the way a person lives their life, some people may work out and have time to run and exercise, whereas some individuals may not have the time in the day to do so. Lifestyle fitness is getting out and doing something that may pertain to your everyday life, such as walking your dog, doing yard work or outside chores, inside chores, what lifestyle fitness is doing, is getting an individual to get moving and and be physically active for at least 30 minutes a day 4-5 days a week. It has been said that this type of activity has been known to reduce blood pressure and reduce weight and fat lost. While lifestyle fitness may not have a major impact on health, it is a good place to start if an individual wants to start a physical fitness program.

Learning to Eat

Learning to eat is one of the biggest problems people face today; with diets such as Atkins and South Beach, some people may think what they are doing is helping, but overall it maybe doing more damage. A healthy diet includes five to nine servings of fruits and vegetables each day, whole grains, moderate portions of lean protein, and limited intake of foods that are high in sugars and fats, and are highly processed. Getting information on nutrition, or getting help from a nutritionist maybe a good way to set up a diet plan or meal plan that is suitable for you.