Lifestyle Change Becomes a National Affair

In Today’s Lexington Herald’s Op-Ed “Exercise will help us avoid chronic diseases”, secretary Mike Leavitt of U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, shares his priorities in building a wellness culture to prevent chronic diseases and to reduce rising health care costs. He points out that a major cause for our ailing nation is physical inactivity. Exercise is one of the best lifestyle changes we can choose to improve our well being.


For the first time in its history, the federal government has issued the “Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans” to encourage Americans to participate in exercise for substantial health benefits. The guidelines serve as “a practical road map to a healthier lifestyle” and can be found at http://www.health.gov/PAGuidelines/.

Leavitt writes: "These guidelines present scientific evidence that Americans who are inactive can begin to gain health improvements by adding as little as 10 minutes of physical activity every day.”

Think about what 10-minute exercise can do for us: boost immune system, lower blood pressure and cholesterol, lose weight, enhance physical appearance, improve psychological outlook, cut down the number of doctor visits (of course, medical costs), gain more energy, increase productivity at work, strengthen stress-coping ability, … …

Exercise is the best prescription to heal our nation’s health care problems. Let’s start taking it NOW.