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Walkability Study
Article: Take Time to Start Walking
Hello. I'm Dr. Bill Reger-Nash from the WVU School of Medicine. Many of you
know me as Bill.
I am grateful to be here in the pages of The Dominion Post for the next eight
weeks to fill you in on the exciting activities that will be happening in the WW
WALKS campaign. Check out this column each week for thoughts of interest to all
health-conscious residents.
I hope you saw our kickoff this past week. My personal passion is to help people
to enjoy life to the fullest. We only have one life to live, and I want all of
our lives to be happy and healthy. I think there is nothing more important than
our health. Without it, it is hard to enjoy life. Good health gives us the
energy and peace of mind to enjoy our family and friends and to face life’s
challenges.
One of the best ways to protect our health is through a regular walking program.
Our bodies are designed to move. When we sit too much, we tend to become tired,
stressed, overweight, and without energy for anything.
A lack of exercise shows up as heart disease, colon cancer, stroke, and diabetes
– four of the seven leading causes of death in the U.S. In addition, nearly 70
percent of the adults in the U.S. report being overweight. In our local area,
the problem of overweight and obesity is similar to the national average, and is
at a catastrophic level.
The burden of sedentary lifestyle-related disease goes far beyond dollars and
statistics. Its effects are a very personal matter for millions of Americans and
their families. For example, heart disease is a tragedy for families who lose a
loved one early, and it reduces the quality of life for those who live with the
disease.
Fortunately, beginning a walking program is an easy first step to better health
and feeling better. Start today. Although our recommendation is to walk 30 or
more minutes daily, you can begin walking 10 minutes a day if you haven’t been
active. You might park the car five or six blocks from your morning destination,
take a brief stroll at lunch, or join a friend for a walk after dinner. Walking
10 minutes each day represents five pounds of fat burned in a year. This could
be just what the doctor ordered!
The most important exercise for the day might be to pick up the phone, call a
friend, and set up an appointment for better health.
However, if you are over 50 years of age or have had health problems, check with
your doctor before you begin. In the vast majority of cases, your doctor will
recommend that you begin walking.
The Dominion Post will be hosting an eight-week lecture series entitled "Walk
the Talk" at the Monongalia County Health Department (453 Van Voorhis Road)
beginning March 21. If you are interested in learning more about walking and
good health, join us at 5 p.m. on Mondays. The one-hour sessions are free and
open to the public. In addition, there is a free health screening. If you are
between 40 and 65 years of age, you can also receive a free cardiovascular lipid
profile, courtesy of Ruby Hospital. Contact Dr. Amol (293-1717 or email at
abahekar@mix.wvu.edu) to register.
Isn't it time you started walking?