When it comes to the health of the U.S. population, both adults and children, it could use some improvement. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, less than 5% of adults get at least 30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise on a daily basis, and only about one in three children is physically active on a daily basis. This is a huge problem, as lack of physical activity can lead to obesity, which raises the risk of diabetes, heart disease and other illnesses. If things don’t improve, its estimated that half of the population could be obese by 2030. Though finding the time to exercise can be difficult, there are options to get you moving.
One of the easiest and least expensive way to exercise is to do it on your own. Walking is a great exercise, especially for someone who is out of shape and who hasn’t exercised for awhile. You can start by walking 30 minutes a day and work your way up as you get more stamina. You can increase the length of your walks as well as your speed. If you are in good enough shape, you might try some occasional running to work your cardiovascular system and burn more calories.
If you live somewhere where outside exercise isn’t always an option, you can buy some exercise equipment and work out in the comfort of your own home. Good choices for exercise equipment are a treadmill, an exercise bike or some kind of elliptical or stair-stepping machine. You can find these at a fitness store or even at discount and department stores. If you want to do more than just cardio, you might expand your exercise equipment by adding dumbbells or some sort of weightlifting machines.
Another great option for working out and getting in shape is to join a gym. This gives you the opportunity to have access to a variety of gym equipment, including advanced cardio and weight machines. Depending on the gym, you might also have access to fitness classes and personal training. Though it might be difficult to get to the gym on a daily basis, being around other people who are working out can give you motivation to stick with it.
No matter how you choose to do it, exercise is important in your life. You can control your weight somewhat through good eating habits, but exercise provides other benefits, such as strengthening muscles and boosting your cardiovascular health. This can have long-term positive consequences on your health.
