Be an Active Part of Family Health and Fitness Day

80.2 million people over the age of six are physically inactive in the United States. This leads to an approximate $117 billion in healthcare costs, associated with the many health risks found in inactive people (such as diabetes, obesity, and heart disease).¹Each September 28, Americans are encouraged to participate in Family Health and Fitness Day to increase the number of physical activities in all age groups.

Converting your family to a more active lifestyle can be difficult, but there are options out there to help overcome this challenge:

• TheCDCoffers a variety of resources on their website, such as Physical Activity basics, Community Strategies, and other initiatives for the family to become educated on physical health.²
• Simply going outside can lead to many different activities, such as hiking, yoga, or a walk in the park. Making these activities have an end goal, such as hiding a “healthy” gift, can give more motivation for everyone involved.¹
• Getting your community in on the action can bring community members together for a great cause. Posting fliers in public places for group activities, such as dance lessons or kickboxing classes, is always a great start.¹
• Picking a healthy meal to cook together as a family makes the lifestyle change less of a chore and more fun, especially for younger children. This is also a great experience for family bonding.¹

With the obesity epidemic effecting 13.7 million children and 93.3 million adults in the U.S., Family Health and Fitness Day promotes the choice to be active, lead a healthier lifestyle, and overall reduce healthcare costs.¹

References

1. Family health and fitness day U.S.A.- September 29, 2019. National Today website. https://nationaltoday.com/family-health-fitness-day-usa/. Published September 2019. Accessed September 24, 2019.
2. Physical Activity. CDC website. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/index.html. Published September 11, 2019. Accessed September 24, 2019.