"How Healthy Are We?

Submitted by David Walker

"How healthy are we?" was a key question asked in a recent survey conducted by Parade Magazine. Nearly two-thirds of the respondents thought they were in "excellent" or "good" health. More than half of those surveyed do not exercise, but 87% acknowledged that we should. A full 57% described themselves as over-weight. And the bottom line was that 90% agreed that their "physical well-being is in (their own) hands." These results would probably closely represent a cross-section of our campus community, and provide much "food for thought" as we consider our personal lives and lifestyles. One question Parade asked that made the biggest impression on me was, "What is your greatest personal health concern currently?" The top five items mentioned were, in order, weight, heart problems, high blood pressure, arthritis, and cholesterol. Of these major "fears", all but arthritis can be greatly influenced by a simple program combining regular exercise with a little discipline in our diets. Most of us probably eat good food. WE just eat too much of it. Be aware of serving size as much as what we are eating. Try to eat healthy snacks and drink plenty of water between meals to make us less hungry and less inclined to overeat when we finally sit down to a meal. Exercise does not have to be painful or overbearing to be effective. Any exercise is better than none, so if you are not already involved in an active lifestyle, begin easy and make it fun. When we were young, exercise was fun. We played and ran and jumped because we enjoyed doing it. Try to revive that attitude by involving others in your efforts and being positive about your methods. Do things that will encourage you to continue, not make you miserable and drive you away. Diet and exercise are an integral part of being physically, mentally, socially, emotionally and spiritually well. Good luck with your efforts involving your total wellness.

Faculty/Staff Bulletin-- March 12, 1998