Nutrition and Physical Activity
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Nutrition and Physical Activity
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Healthy eating and exercise patterns, established in childhood and maintained throughout life, result in higher quality of life and can prevent premature death and disability. Moderate physical activity and a healthy diet reduce risks for high blood pressure, diabetes, coronary heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, respiratory problems, and some types of cancer (see Cancer and Chronic Disease).
Objective:
Dietary excesses and imbalances have replaced once commonplace nutrient deficiencies. Excesses coupled with inactivity have resulted in an alarming increase in the number of overweight and obese children and adults in the United States in the past decade. In adults, overweight is currently defined as a Body Mass Index (BMI)
greater than or equal to 25, obesity is defined as a BMI greater than or equal
to 30. Overweight in children and
Objective:
Physically inactive people are almost twice as likely to develop heart disease as people who engage in regular physical activity. Regular physical activity, especially important for people who have joint or bone problems, has been shown to improve muscle function, and may protect against lower back pain. People with disabilities and certain health conditions, such as arthritis, are less likely to engage in moderate or vigorous physical activity than are people without disabilities, increasing the health disparity between populations with disabilities and those without.
Objective:
Major decreases in vigorous physical activity occur during grades 9 through 12, and the decrease is more profound for girls than for boys. Because children spend much of their time in school, the type and amount of physical activity encouraged in schools is important for the development of an active lifestyle.
Objective:
An adequate intake of fruits and vegetables assures a nutrient dense and fiber rich, not calorie dense, diet. Unfortunately, children eat only half the recommended five servings of fruits and vegetables a day. Educating school-aged children about nutrition is important to establishing healthy eating habits that last a lifetime. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans provide practical advice to help families achieve optimal nutrition.
Objective:
Diet and physical activity are both associated with osteoporosis, which affects more than 25 million persons in the United States and is the major underlying cause of bone fractures in postmenopausal women and seniors. The National Osteoporosis Foundation estimates that 14% of New Hampshire adults over 50 years of age have osteoporosis. Osteoporosis can be prevented by an adequate calcium intake and regular physical activity, particularly weight- bearing activity. Since the start of this decade, consumption of calcium-rich foods, such as milk products, has declined, especially among teenaged girls and young women. |
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